Journalist Martin Bashir, accused of manipulating Princess Diana for the sensational 1995 BBC interview, points to "professional jealousy" and his ethnic background as factors in the allegations against him. The BBC released 3,000 internal emails related to the scandal, with Bashir's comments from 2020 blaming jealousy and ethnicity. Investigative journalist Andy Webb's FOI request revealed attempts to conceal Bashir's actions by BBC editors.

Bashir forged bank statements to secure the interview, leading to a "serious breach" of BBC guidelines. In July 2020 emails, Bashir dismissed the forgery's relevance and suggested less controversy with a "dynastic" journalist. He claimed resentment within the corporation due to his non-white, working-class background entering a Royal Palace.

Bashir revealed the Prince of Wales' office's gratitude for his refusal to discuss the interview, protecting surviving royals from attacks leveraging Diana's words. Amidst the scandal, Bashir resigned as BBC's religion editor. The BBC denies bad faith, emphasizing Bashir's actions predate the documentaries on the 1995 interview.

The revelations deepen the controversy, exposing dynamics surrounding the iconic interview, and pose challenges for the BBC in managing fallout from Bashir's unethical practices.