Brewdog complains to BBC & OfCom about Disclosure documentary
On 24th January 2022 BBC Scotland broadcast a programme The Truth About Brewdog. It covered a range of issues around the brewer, including its Equity for Punks share scheme. Much of this was already known to those interested but of course reached a much wider audience with the programme.
The last section covered interviews with former and current Brewdog employees about the culture at the Company, often described as ‘toxic’, and in particular the behaviour of co-founder James Watt towards women.
Watt contested the allegations and said they were not, for the most part, true.
The CEO of Brewdog Allan Leighton claimed the complaints were from a small group of disgruntled ex-employees determined to damage the Brewdog brand.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/brewdog-triggers-ofcom-complaint-over-26366307
Watt and Brewdog’s lawyers complained to the BBC about the programme and asked for an OfCom inquiry into aspects of it.
Matters have now taken their course, Punks With Purpose a group that contains ex-Brewdog employees is small but with a much wider support network. Raising complaints about harassment and bullying is never easy and might impact future employability (although it shouldn’t do).
One wonders if Watt has heard of the first law of holes and the related point that taking action simply amplifies the issues further over a longer period.
At length OfCom has now investigated James Watt’s complaint against the BBC and found that the programme was fair. Given Watt’s disregard for the law of holes a further riposte can’t be ruled out
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-68321350
OfCom findings- 66 page pdf
Link to BBC 2022 programme
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0013yfj/disclosure-series-4-the-truth-about-brewdog
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