Dylan Black Lanterns

Dylan Black Lanterns

@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

King Cannibal / House of Black Lanterns. DJ Mag award nominated artist, music maker, mixer, recovering addict and mental health advocate

520 followers558 following1.2K posts

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

If you do this shit, and purposefully edit out badges, you are making a clear statement which is both bigger and extreme

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *
Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

Supergirl 1984. The only time my dad took me to the cinema. I would have been 5. He feels asleep. Shortly after that my next memory was being taken to see Ewoks: The Battle for Endor at the cinema as a group for a friend's birthday. Both at the Odeon in Sutton.

Mark Thompson@markreckons.bsky.social

First film you saw at the cinema. The real first one, not the pretend one you tell people! Mine: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980, Wigan. We were near the front and I can still remember how massive the AT-ATs looked, looming over us out of the snow :) Film, year, where, and whatever stuck with you.

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

This looks bad, but have you actually met my family?

Social Market Foundation@smfthinktank.bsky.social

🚨 NEW POLLING🚨 AI is now so good at mimicking empathy that many people prefer it to their friends. 1 in 5 UK adults have used an AI chatbot for personal or relationship advice – and 54% of them found it more helpful than talking to friends or family.

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

Is he on his way to get his semi nide body get projected on to the House Of Commons? Is he going to protest and voice his 'Legitimate concerns'? Did he spill paint on the rest of his clothes when painting a roundabout?

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

The live Band On Strictly Come Dancing The weird need to have on location reporters for every event (like recently standing outside a closed Wildlife Park) The BBC tendency to somehow apply a feeling of ownership of an event like Glastonbury and Crafts and what must be the huge onsite production

Danny Kelly @dannykelly.bsky.social

The BBC has to make cuts. Where would you save money? No matter how small. I would sell Steve Lamacq’s microphone. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/o...

theguardian.comBBC Three and BBC Scotland TV channels to be shut down next yearCorporation announces broadcast closures and job losses in effort to find savings of £500m
View full thread
Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

Then rather than farm out older BBC shows to things like Britbox, launch some kind of paid service where you can access the full BBC archives. There is so much amazing stuff which just isn't available and you have to hope you find a rip of it up on YouTube

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

The live Band On Strictly Come Dancing The weird need to have on location reporters for every event (like recently standing outside a closed Wildlife Park) The BBC tendency to somehow apply a feeling of ownership of an event like Glastonbury and Crafts and what must be the huge onsite production

Danny Kelly @dannykelly.bsky.social

The BBC has to make cuts. Where would you save money? No matter how small. I would sell Steve Lamacq’s microphone. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/o...

theguardian.comBBC Three and BBC Scotland TV channels to be shut down next yearCorporation announces broadcast closures and job losses in effort to find savings of £500m
Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

I might even add Radio 1 too. As a delivery model it feels outdated in how most of its target audience even listen to music these days, and I'd rather keep the channels focused on developing talent and comedy writers.

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

I look forward to tomorrow's coverage of this Reform documentary, and what piss weak excuses and arguments are offered, whilst the news outlets, discus individual instances of wrong doing and miss the point that Reform's core policy is straight up racism.

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

The thing is for them, if US is anything to go by, and the state of the BBC, is they can wait out and accept the losses of individuals for the moment, and just wait for the programming and coverage to be pressured to be further right wing aligned, and then push harder.

Dylan Black Lanterns reposted

Matt Novak
@paleofuture.bsky.social

Tucker Carlson: "If you look at pornography enough or bestiality videos all day, after a while... it's kind of an attractive horse, I get it."

Dylan Black Lanterns
@ofblacklanterns.bsky.social

Is it 'racism' that he might be playing at? 🤔

The News Agents@thenewsagents.co.uk

“Since the rise of Restore, Farage has been more indulgent of things Zia Yusuf has been saying. “I don’t know what Farage is playing at!” Tim Montgomerie says Reform has been ‘spooked by Restore’, but warns against 'playing footsie' with them to win votes.

Dylan Black Lanterns reposted

Kenny Campbell
@mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

I have never seen coverage of a live trial, one involving allegations of multiple sex attacks on multiple women, framed in a more distasteful way. It's not 'Fame under fire' it's a rape trial. And it involves actual women. And this from the *checks notes* BBC

Dylan Black Lanterns reposted

Alison
@alisondennison.bsky.social

Like they did with the first cars: Someone walks in front of the wearer, carrying a red flag

Le Monde in English@english.lemonde.fr

EU watchdog says smart glasses must clearly show when recording

lemonde.frEU watchdog says smart glasses must clearly show when recordingSmart glasses, which resemble ordinary glasses but can capture images and interact with AI assistants, must give 'clear warnings' when they are recording, the European Union's data regulator said Tuesday. The statement comes amid an outcry over privacy violations.