Matthijs van Nieuwkerk immediately leaves BNNVARA, because he is disappointed that the broadcaster publicly doubts his sincerity. He is resigning all his television work for the time being.
The Volkskrant investigation into the misconduct of Matthijs van Nieuwkerk at De Wereld Draait Door has released a lot. It now leads, three days after publication, to the departure of the presenter from BNNVARA. He ‘cuts ties’ with the broadcaster because he feels abandoned by the leadership, he tells the ANP.
Matthew disappointed
BNNVARA is angry with Matthijs, because he did not express regret in a first statement to de Volkskrant on Friday, but decided to lash out at two former colleagues. The broadcaster whistled him back and had him write an amended statement. Only that second statement, in which he does express regret, made it to the newspaper.
However, because of that first statement, BNNVARA has serious doubts about the cooperation with Matthijs and the broadcaster has also communicated this to the outside world. And that seriously disappoints the presenter.
‘It’s impossible’
Matthijs says he can no longer continue at BNNVARA. “The fact that my employer openly doubts my sincerity makes further cooperation impossible.”
It is a tough period for Matthijs. “I notice that there are many emotions fighting for priority: shame for the fear that editors have felt, regret that I had a – literally – blind ambition and therefore crossed borders, sadness about De Wereld Draait Door, my life’s work after all, wavers.”
TV break
Finally, Matthijs announces a TV break and therefore it seems that he will not resume the recordings of his Top 2000 programs, which should be broadcast in December. Last weekend’s recordings were canceled due to the publication of the Volkskrant article.
Matthijs will use the coming period ‘to come to his senses’. “After that I hope to hear from you again.”
Flight forward
Telegraaf journalist Kitty Herweijer: “Matthijs clearly has no desire to bend his knees and meanwhile have to wait for the big judgment of a few NPO bigots with a lot of butter on their heads. He flees forward, with a fat finger to the people who are now playing holy beans.”
She continues: “People who ultimately need him more than he needs them. He knows that too. And attack is often the best defense.”
Response BNNVARA
Update 3.45 pm – BNNVARA responds as follows: “We respect Matthijs van Nieuwkerk’s decision to end the collaboration. An expression of regret from Matthijs was and we consider essential, which includes the acknowledgment that the boundaries of (former) colleagues have been crossed.”
“In the assignment we have set ourselves – namely to provide a safe working environment for all our colleagues – we explicitly take the developments of the past period into account. We must and will do better.”
