A British editors group has withdrawn its claim that the UK media isn't racist after previously dismissing Meghan Markle's experience
- The British Society of Editors has withdrawn its statement that the UK media is not racist.
- The organization made the statement after Meghan Markle spoke about her experience.
- The society's new director said it is "100% against all forms of racism."
The British Society of Editors is now acknowledging racism within the UK media after disregarding the Duchess of Sussex's treatment earlier this year.
The organization that represents British newspapers previously said in a statement that the industry isn't racist after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shared their experience with Oprah Winfrey on March 7.
The Duke of Sussex told Winfrey that many newspaper headlines and stories about Markle had "colonial undertones" and that he felt the "UK press is bigoted."
Former Society of Editors director Ian Murray responded to these comments in an interview with the BBC, saying it was "not acceptable for the Duke and Duchess to make such claims without providing any supporting evidence."
As Insider's Ashley Collman previously reported, several UK-based journalists including Jess Brammar, editor-in-chief of HuffPost UK, disagreed with Murray's comments. Many shared examples of the racism Markle experienced, including being criticized for things that Kate Middleton was praised for.
The subsequent backlash led to Murray's resignation, The Guardian reported on March 10.
The society's new director, Dawn Alford, has issued a statement in response to an open letter written by journalists of color who shared concern about the society's previous comments.
In the statement shared on the society's website, Alford wrote that Murray's previous statement "didn't accurately reflect the complex, challenging and changing processes that all society - including the media - is experiencing."
"It also did not reflect the continuing actions of the Society of Editors to support publishers in improving diversity and inclusion within our industry," she added.
She went on to say that the initial statement has been taken down from the website and they "consider this to be a formal withdrawal of it."
"We are not a watchdog for the industry, but we can ensure that, as a membership organization, we ignite conversations and offer support to everyone working to improve diversity and inclusion in the newsroom," Alford wrote. "I would also like to make it totally clear - the Society of Editors is 100% against all forms of racism."
Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.