THE BBC could face a government probe for allowing Jimmy Mizen’s killer to be promoted on the airwaves.
Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer was “deeply concerned” by the revelations and urged the broadcaster to take action.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy opened the door to a probe[/caption]
Fury erupted today after The Sun unmasked a balaclava-wearing drill rapper to be murder convict Jake Fahri.
He was recently freed following a life prison sentence for the 2008 murder of 16-year-old schoolboy Jimmy in South London.
But since coming outside he has released songs appearing to boast about killing – including lyrics about watching a victim “melt like Ben and Jerry’s”.
And Fahri’s music was even played out on BBC 1Xtra, with DJ Theo Johnson saying he “really stands out”.
Our revelations sparked uproar in Westminster, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy opening the door to a probe into the national broadcaster.
She was challenged by Tory Shadow Culture Secretary Stuart Andrew, who raised the Sun’s investigation in the Commons.
He said: “The murder of Jimmy Mizen sadly sticks in the mind of many of us.
“The Sun investigation reveals his killer’s identity as the masked rapper Jake Farhi who has shockingly been promoted by the BBC.
“Despite his lyrics sickeningly boasting about killing and other crimes, will the Secretary of State join me in calling for an investigation in how the BBC allowed this to happen as I can’t imagine the pain and upset this is causing Jimmy’s family.”
Labour’s Ms Nandy said: “Can I add my voice to the support for Jimmy’s family. I think he raised that in a particularly sensitive way. It’s something I would be happy to look at with him.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Clearly the BBC needs to look at itself. That would be completely appropriate. And I hope they come forward with some action too.”
The PM’s spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is deeply concerned at the situation and the significant additional distress to the family.
“HMPPS (probation service0 also said they’re aware of this content and rightly investigating it as an urgent priority, any material that could glorify violence or distress victims is taken extremely seriously, and any offender who breaches their license conditions faces immediate recall to prison and the HMPPS has not hesitated, rightly investigating what has happened here as a priority.
“When it comes to BBC, independent of government, they make their own editorial decisions.
“But I think the public would rightly expect, given the unique responsibilities to the public, that they would take complaints and any allegations seriously.”
The BBC has confirmed it has banned Fahri’s music following the latest revelations.
But listeners can find them unedited on Spotify and YouTube — with lyrics that appear to refer to Jimmy’s murder.
YouTube last night told The Sun it had launched a review of TEN’s music on its platform.
Fahri, often seen in a balaclava, raps on one song: “Stuck it on a man and watched him melt like Ben and Jerry’s.
“Sharpen up my blade I’ve got to keep those necessary. Stay alert and kept it ready, any corner could be deadly.
“Judge took a look at me, before the trial even started he already knows he’s gonna throw the book at me”.
In another he boasts: “See a man’s soul fly from his eyes and his breath gone.
“S***, I wanted more, it made it less wrong. Seeing blood spilled same floor he was left on.”
We handed evidence of his lyrics to the Ministry of Justice who said: “We are investigating as a priority.”
The Sun Says: The promotion of the sick, violent ‘music’ of Jimmy Mizen’s swaggering murderer is a new low even for the BBC
THE promotion of the sick, violent “music” of Jimmy Mizen’s swaggering murderer is a new low even for the BBC.
The corporation cannot credibly claim all innocence.
Wannabe gangster Jake Fahri hides behind a balaclava.
That is just one red flag.
Then there are his lyrics, blatantly glorifying murder, knives and jail time.
One directly refers to stabbing a victim.
“See a man’s soul fly from his eyes and his breath gone”, reads one chilling line.
Another seems to refer to perjuring himself at his trial.
The BBC knows exactly how extreme all this is.
Its staff censored the worst moments of the two songs it aired on radio, then excitedly played the rest.
They know that giving this creature a national platform encourages anyone interested to seek out his even more extreme material, uncensored, online.
Fahri’s rants are not “art” worth defending.
The violence he brags of is not imaginary.
It is not merely edgy entertainment for comfortable BBC idiots who enjoy the “drill” music of sociopathic gangsters.
For the Mizen family it has been terrifyingly real since the day Fahri killed teenager Jimmy in 2008 and sauntered away with a grin.
As it has for all those beaten and threatened by this wretched thug since he was a child.
We wish he had never been released.
But the State decided otherwise and rehabilitation is of course then preferable, as for any ex-con.
We would not object to Fahri making an honest living.
It is repugnant, though, to watch him profit from his crimes.
Worse still to see the BBC, using our licence fees, give him a leg-up.
“I’m really liking what I’m hearing,” gushes one witless Radio 1Xtra DJ.
Fahri is able to scribble about his experiences only because he robbed the Mizens of young Jimmy all those years ago.
A murderer hoping to sell their story would be turned down by any newspaper.
How is this any different?
And how is it possible for the BBC, after all its scandals, to continue to plumb such appalling depths?
Jimmy’s mum Margaret Mizen, awarded an MBE in 2013 for her work promoting peace, said last night: “It’s very difficult to comment until I have read it.
“But if this is true, I am very saddened as it will be a shock to the rest of my family.
“However Jimmy’s legacy of forgiveness, peace and hope, which we share in schools, will not change.”
And this morning Margaret said she is “disappointed” with the BBC for playing the music of her son’s killer.
She said: “I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with the BBC for
playing any of his music on the radio station.
“I’ll be wanting answers about that as well because I think it doesn’t matter if if it wasn’t the two songs that are the worst.
“It’s the fact they played some. You know, when you’re playing the songs of a murderer. It’s pretty bad isn’t it?”
The BBC said: “Decisions on music are made case by case.
“We have strict editorial guidelines in place before any content is broadcast or posted.
“BBC 1Xtra does not glamorise violence.”
Fahri may now have his licence conditions altered to force him to share his lyrics with parole bosses before publishing his music.
The 35-year-old was released from jail in June 2023 and immediately embarked on a career as a drill rapper.
He did not respond to comment requests but deleted social media profiles.
Millwall fan and former altar boy Jimmy was attacked at a bakery in Lee, South East London by Fahri who had gone in and started an argument.
The wannabe gangster, then 19, hurled a Pyrex dish at Jimmy, severing an artery and killing him.
Fahri ran out of the shop and was described by a witness as “walking with a swagger”.
Fahri pleaded not guilty to murder.
But the jury saw through his lies and the wannabe rapper, who went by the street name Diirty Detz and idolised US hip-hop stars, was found guilty at the Old Bailey in March 2009.
He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years.
Less than 18 months after his release, Fahri’s tracks have been pushed on BBC 1XTRA, with DJ Theo Johnson dubbing him an “up-and-coming star”.
In October Fahri posted a song called Rocky Marciano on Instagram with the caption: “Got my first spin on BBC introducing 1xtra Theo Johnson show.”
After playing his track, 1XTRA DJ Theo told listeners: “You see Ten, yeah, he delivers the bars in a certain way that makes him really stand out to me.
“I’m really liking what I’m hearing, when I’m hearing what he’s laying down at the moment.
“And I know my producer KC is a big fan as well, and she’s been singing his praises, and proper rocking with his tunes.”
Two different songs by TEN have been played on separate occasions on Johnson’s show.
His songs have also featured on the BBC Orbit website, which promotes new tracks and undiscovered artists, handpicked by local BBC staff.
Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick last night demanded the BBC apologise to the Mizen family.
The Tory MP said: “Licence-fee payers will be horrified the BBC is promoting music from a man who committed a murder which shocked Britain.
“By playing his music the BBC are helping him make money from his crime.
“They must do more to ensure that they know exactly who they are promoting in their shows, because impressionable children will hear this and it might make them think these people are role models, when they are a scourge on society.”
Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers added: “The BBC should be promoting role models not convicts.
“This is a shameful abuse of taxpayer funding, and the BBC need to drop this promotion and apologise.”
Prior to Jimmy’s murder, Fahri had a shocking history of violence and aggression.
Despite his crimes, a Parole Board announced in May 2023 that he would be released, with the thug let back on to streets two months later.
The board ruled Fahri was safe to go free despite a risk assessment stating that his likelihood of reoffending came from his “willingness to use violence and carry weapons” and “difficulties managing his anger and emotions”.
