In a significant backlash, over 97,000 individuals have filed grievances with the UK’s Independent Press Standards Organisation. This follows a series of articles by right-wing outlets portraying Misan Harriman, a British-Nigerian arts trustee, as antisemitic due to his social media activity. Notable figures such as Tracey Emin, Greta Thunberg, and Mark Ruffalo are among the 245 original signatories of an open letter supporting Harriman, amidst heightened calls for his removal from the Southbank Centre’s board in London.
Harriman has denied the accusations, asserting, “I’ve organized for Black Lives Matter, championed women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, transgender protections, and for the Ukrainians during the war, and no one has had a problem until I started speaking out against Israel’s genocide in Palestine.” He emphasized to Hyperallergic that the loudest voices in the media do not represent the truth. His appointment as board chair of the Southbank Centre in 2021 marked a significant milestone, as he became the first Black man to photograph a British Vogue cover.
The controversy erupted following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statements on combating antisemitism, after an attack in Golders Green. On May 6, the Telegraph published a piece critiquing Harriman’s Instagram posts, which led to MP David Taylor suggesting a reconsideration of Harriman’s board position. Harriman had shared a post questioning the portrayal of the Golders Green incident as solely antisemitic, noting a prior attack by the assailant on a Muslim acquaintance.
The Telegraph further scrutinized Harriman’s responses to the far-right Reform party’s electoral successes, quoting Susan Sontag’s Holocaust reflections, which some claimed equated Reform voters to Nazis. Critics like Robert Jenrick labeled Harriman unfit for a taxpayer-funded role. The story was amplified by outlets such as the Daily Mail and GB News, prompting a wave of online support for Harriman.
With nearly 100,000 complaints lodged, the Guardian reported that several MPs have rallied in defense of Harriman, asserting the campaign against him lacks factual basis. Harriman remains steadfast in his position as chair, with the Southbank Centre affirming board members’ rights to free expression. This incident highlights ongoing diversity challenges within British cultural institutions, amid recent leadership changes at the Barbican Centre.
