Deadline has reported that BBC Director General Tim Davie has left the company amid a possible scandal over edited footage of Donald Trump. News Chief Deborah Turness was also part of the fallout, as she has also resigned.

According to Deadline, the British Broadcasting Corporation announced the news of the executive’s departure on Sunday. The UK media industry is sure to see a ripple effect. Neither of the executives were dismissed from the company and left on personal terms. Davis will not vacate his post until his replacement is found.

Via Deadline, Davie sent a memo to BBC staff addressing his departure. “I wanted to let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years. This is entirely my decision, and I remain very thankful to the chair and board for their unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure, including during recent days.” 

He added to the email. “I have been reflecting on the very intense personal and professional demands of managing this role over many years in these febrile times, combined with the fact that I want to give a successor time to help shape the charter plans they will be delivering.” via Deadline.

Deadline has reported that Davie had been at the BBC for 20 years, five of which he served as Director General. He was expected to maintain his role at the company until at least the renewal of its operating agreement.

According to Deadline, the departure comes after accusations that the company had edited Donald Trump’s January 6th speech to imply that Trump had encouraged the ensuing riots at the Capitol building.

According to Deadline, the concerns stemmed from a leaked memo by Michael Presscott, a former external advisor to BBC Editorial Guidelines and Standards. The memo was obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

Trump has been in the midst of several battles with high-profile media figures, including Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, both of whom have been vocal critics of the administration. Trump has been accused of using the FCC and other presidential powers to silence the press.

Deadline has reported that this is not Davie’s first scandal. During his tenure, there was the Greg Wallace Masterchef misconduct, the livestreaming of the Bob Vylan Glastonbury Show in which he chanted “death to the IDF, and the broadcast of Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, a documentary in which the BBC did not disclose, narrated by the son of a Hamas minister.

According to Deadline, Turness was on board the BBC ship for the last two scandals, the documentary and the Trump speech. She addressed the staff. “The ongoing controversy around the Panorama on President Trump has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC – an institution that I love. As the CEO of BBC News and current affairs, the buck stops with me – and I took the decision to offer my resignation to the director-general last night.”

She added, “In a polarised world, BBC News journalism is more vital than ever, and I could not be prouder of the work that you do. Together we have bucked the global trend to grow trust in BBC News, and I want to thank you, wherever you are in the world, for your courageous work to deliver that.” via Deadline.

Via Deadline, BBC Chair Samir Shah stated, “ Tim has given 20 years of his life to the BBC. He is a devoted and inspirational leader and an absolute believer in the BBC and public service broadcasting. He has achieved a great deal. Foremost, under his tenure, the transformation of the BBC to meet the challenges in a world of unprecedented change and competition is well underway. Personally, I will miss his stamina, good humour, and resilience and I will miss working with him. I wish him and his family the very best for the future. This is an important time for the corporation and the Board and I will continue to work with Tim in the interim while we conduct the process to appoint his successor.”

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy also released a statement, “I want to thank Tim Davie for his service to public service broadcasting over many years. He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years. The BBC is one of our most important national institutions. Every day, it tells the story of who we are – the people, places and communities that make up life across the UK. Now more than ever, the need for trusted news and high-quality programming is essential to our democratic and cultural life, and our place in the world.” via Deadline.