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ORDEAL: Munroe Bergdorf said that the NSPCC situation has been extremely stressful

THE NSPCC has apologised after it suddenly cut ties with transgender model and activist Munroe Bergdorf.

Bergdorf had been appointed as the first-ever LGBT+ campaigner for Childline, the NSPCC’s counselling service for children and young people, but was removed from the role 48 hours after she announced the news.

The charity announced it was cutting ties with Bergdorf after she was accused of being a “porn model” by a Times columnist.

Bergdorf had previously said how the charity failed to inform her that they were cutting ties with her before going public with the announcement.

Following the charity’s decision to abruptly drop Munroe, around 150 employees signed a letter in support of her, The Guardian reported.

In a statement released yesterday, the NSPCC said it was sorry for the hurt that has been caused by recent events with Bergdorf.

Peter Wanless, the CEO of NSPCC, said: “I have received very significant feedback from our staff and volunteers since the decision was made on Friday to end the charity's association with Munroe Bergdorf. The Board of Trustees were clear that if at all possible we should speak to Munroe Bergdorf before an announcement was made. Unfortunately, we tried but failed to make direct contact with her. The NSPCC announcement should have been delayed.”

Wanless said that the decision had nothing to do with the fact that Bergdorf is transgender.

“The driving force of the decision the board took was concern around the lack of process that our organisation used when deciding to work with Munroe. This is not Munroe's doing but is much more a failure of our systems and processes than anything Munroe has done while engaged with us, and something we have to learn from,” Wanless said.

He added: “The board decided an ongoing relationship with Munroe was inappropriate because of her statements on the public record, which we felt would mean that she was in breach of our own risk assessments and undermine what we are here to do. These statements are specific to safeguarding and equality.”

Responding to the apology, Bergdorf tweeted: “I appreciate the formal apology, NSPCC. This situation has been extremely stressful and unnecessary. I just want to move on from the whole ordeal.”

She also said that she hoped the situation would shine a light on what trans people in the UK are experiencing.

“I hope those who aren't trans start to realise what trans people in the UK are dealing with.

“Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism is a hate movement,” she said.

Some of those who have supported Munroe have found themselves on the receiving end of abuse and harassment.

Ben Hunte, the BBC’s first LGBTQ+ correspondent, faced criticism after covering the story and the NSPCC employee who hired Bergdorf has also been targeted.

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