"Why would you not want to know what people are talking about?”
BBC Breakfast viewers criticised presenter Naga Munchetty for berating Kemi Badenoch during a live interview about Netflix’s Adolescence.
The clash aired on April 10, where Naga and co-host Charlie Stayt hosted the Conservative Party leader to discuss England’s local elections.
However, the conversation quickly shifted to Adolescence, a fictional drama exploring smartphone use, toxic masculinity, and misogyny in schools.
The series has sparked a national debate over social media and mental health among teenagers.
Charlie asked: “Have you watched Adolescence yet?”
Kemi replied: “No no I haven’t, I probably won’t. It’s a film on Netflix, and most of my time right now is spent visiting the country…”
Naga Munchetty interrupted: “It’s a four-part series on Netflix, and everyone is talking about it.
“It is prompting conversations about toxic masculinity, smartphone use, young men feeling that they’re being ignored, and the idea of misogyny being increased in school.
“Why would you not want to know what people are talking about?”
Kemi Badenoch responded: “Well, I think that they are all important issues, and those are issues that I’ve been talking about for a long time.
“But in the same way that I don’t need to watch Casualty to know what’s going on in the NHS, I don’t need to watch a specific Netflix drama to understand what’s going on, it’s a fictional series, it is not a documentary.
“What I’ve been talking about recently, for instance, is banning smartphones in schools. I’ve been going to schools all around the country.
“I was in Evesham just yesterday talking to head teachers, talking to students, and they talk about the problems phones are causing.”
Naga fired back: “The difference this documentary has made, compared to say a politician, any politician, leader of the party, the Prime Minister going round talking in schools is this has made much more of an impact than any politician has in terms of what people are talking about right now.
“So it’s really confusing that you don’t want to know why, how this has made an impact, how parents are now saying we need to know more about smartphone use?”
Kemi replied: “I can read what people are saying about it. I look at research. This is something that I’ve been looking at for a long time.
“One of the things that I’m more bothered by is the fact that just yesterday we had Labour telling us that they are not going to be investigating the rape gang scandal, something which had happened all across the country, that’s real, that’s happening right now.
“We’re not talking about that. We’re talking about a fictional documentary.
“We have thousands of victims – female victims, those are girls, young women, and some boys too.
“I met the mother of a boy who killed himself after being a victim, I want to talk about that because that is real.
“And yes, I’m glad that the Netflix drama is something that people are talking about, but it is not the only thing. There are many other things that are going on.
“And my job as Opposition Leader is to hold the government to account, get them to hold a full national enquiry on what is one of the biggest scandals in our country.”
The tense exchange sparked backlash online, with many criticising Naga Munchetty’s tone and focus.
One wrote:
“Naga Munchetty giving Kemi Badenoch a b******ing on BBC Breakfast cos she hasn’t watched Adolescence.”
“And then calling it a documentary. Adolescence discourse is out of control.”
Another wrote: “Did anyone watch that disgraceful interview with Kemi Badenoch on @BBCBreakfast?
“Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty could hardly hide their contempt for her, pulling faces and constantly interrupting her or twisting her words.
“Well done @KemiBadenoch for giving a great interview.”
A third added: “The absolute absurdity of Naga Munchetty and @BBCBreakfast going on and on about ” to @KemiBadenoch is just risible.
“As though policy on this issue can only be made and understood if you’ve watched some fictional TV show. It’s pathetic. Give it up.”
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