Kay Burley is facing mounting backlash after a studio-silencing moment where she came to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's defence on BBC's Newsnight. The national broadcaster released a special episode of its flagship political analysis show on Monday night, centring on Pizza Express launching an internal inquiry into the disgraced former royal's 2019 Newsnight claim that he was at the Woking branch of the chain at the time the late Virginia Giuffre Roberts – one of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's victims – said he had slept with her. He denied having relations with Giuffre Roberts – a prominent accuser of Epstein – on three separate occasions in 2001, twice while she was underage, under US law.
Burley's Controversial Comment
The episode, hosted by Victoria Derbyshire and featuring Kay Burley, included testimony from Epstein survivor and campaigner Lisa Phillips and Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister for Victims, 2024–2026. Towards the end of the special, Davies-Jones encouraged any others who may have suffered abuse at the hands of Mountbatten-Windsor, Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, or have any information, to come forward. That is when Burley stepped in, unprompted, to add: 'And we should accept that he was a war hero. We should just throw that in,' which caused both Phillips and Davies-Jones to look at the presenter in disbelief at jumping to his defence.
Reaction and Backlash
Ex-Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, including active service during the 1982 Falklands conflict. He was stripped of his military titles following the Epstein scandal, but was allowed to retain his South Atlantic medal for his involvement in that war. Nonetheless, given the allegations against him, many have called Burley out for her poor taste comment, especially while sitting on the sofa with Phillips and Davies-Jones. 'Kay Burley: We should just accept that he was a war hero, we should just throw that in." No, Kay, we really shouldn't just throw that in,' X user Joe Lever wrote. 'Why in the holy f**k did Kay Burley – sitting next to one of Epstein's victims – think it was appropriate to stick up for Andrew and call him a war hero at the end of that piece?! What an absolute psychopath,' BJFD added. 'You owe a huge apology Kay Burley. Completely disgusting that you felt the need to say this,' Adam Thirwell agreed. 'My jaw dropped open watching Kay Burley on Newsnight add: “We should remember he's a war hero” at the end of a piece about Andrew, with Epstein survivors,' James R Kennedy reflected. Ian B called the moment 'abysmal' and HayleyLDN added: 'What a completely unhinged thing for Burley to say there…'
Mountbatten-Windsor's Arrest
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February of this year – on his 66th birthday – on suspicion of misconduct in public office and held in custody for 11 hours before being released under investigation. The arrest came shortly after the US Justice Department released a batch of the Epstein files. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing. Newsnight airs on BBC Two every weeknight from 10:30pm. Metro has reached out to BBC and Kay Burley's representatives for comment.
