"Martin Bashir is a criminal."
Martin Bashir is a British former journalist who was born to Pakistani parents.
He may not currently be pursuing journalism, but his career in front of the cameras was shrouded in as much controversy as the stars he interviewed.
Notably, in 1995, Martin Bashir interviewed Diana, Princess of Wales. They spoke about Diana’s relationship with her then-husband King Charles III.
Bashir probed her about the reasons for their separation and the interview was touted as the scoop of a generation.
It was watched by 200 million people across 100 countries.
In 2020, BBC General Director-General Tim Davie apologised after Bashir allegedly used forged bank statements to gain Diana’s trust and secure the interview.
However, this wasn’t the end of Bashir’s controversial run as a journalist.
In 2003, Martin Bashir led a television crew over eight months, as they filmed the documentary Living With Michael Jackson.
The programme featured Bashir conducting a series of interviews with Jackson.
He quizzed the legendary singer about his plastic surgery, his complex relationship with his father, and his fondness for children.
Living With Michael Jackson also contained an interview with Jackson along with Gavin Arvizo, who was then a 13-year-old boy.
Jackson had supported Arvizo through his cancer treatment and Bashir’s interview with them saw Arvizo rest his head on Jackson’s shoulder.
Soon after Living With Michael Jackson aired, Arvizo accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse which led to a criminal trial. In June 2005, Jackson was acquitted of all charges.
Netizens recently took to X to criticise Martin Bashir for his treatment towards Princess Diana and Michael Jackson in his interviews.
The user who shared the post wrote: “Princess Diana only lived two more years after she gave an interview to this man.
“Michael Jackson had seven more years to live after he let this man into his life.
“Martin Bashir is a criminal and belongs behind bars.”
Princess Diana only lived 2 more years after she gave an interview to this man. Michael Jackson had 7 more years to live after he let this man into his life. Martin Bashir is a criminal and belongs behind bars https://t.co/4GyK21GIcw pic.twitter.com/nSxawird1q
— LiberianGirl ? (@LiberianGirl779) March 7, 2025
The tweet elicited strong reactions from netizens who shared similar thoughts.
One user wrote: “The fact that this man deceived both Princess Diana and Michael Jackson, recognising their vulnerability and exploiting them for his own gain, inflicting severe and lasting damage on their lives, yet has faced no consequences is absolutely appalling.”
Another said: “One of the reasons why hell was created.”
However, while the tweet may have been recent, this is not the first time Martin Bashir has faced criticism for these interviews.
Before his death, Michael Jackson commented on his unhappiness towards Bashir.
He said: “Martin Bashir persuaded me to trust him that his would be an honest and fair portrayal of my life, and told me he was ‘the man that turned Diana’s life around’.
“Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before – that someone, who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair programme.”
Incidentally, Michael Jackson and Princess Diana were known to be good friends. While Diana died in 1997, Jackson passed away in 2009.
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