BBC News told to 'do better' after airing footage of LeBron James instead of Kobe Bryant

BBC News has apologised after airing footage of the wrong basketball player in coverage of Kobe Bryant's death on Sunday evening.

The NBA legend and his 13-year-old old daughter died, along with seven other people, when the helicopter that was carrying them crashed near Calabasas, Los Angeles.

Tributes have since been pouring in for Bryant, who was one of the most decorated and praised players in the history of his sport, during his 20-year career with the LA Lakers.

The 41-year-old's untimely passing was the BBC's lead story on the News at Ten, but the footage they used of the star in action was actually of LeBron James, an equally praised star who had also played for the Lakers.

The mistake didn't go unnoticed by many and Twitter was soon awash with people aghast at what they had just seen.

Others, including Labour MP David Lammy, told the BBC to 'do better' as Bryan and James barely bear any sort of resemblance to each other – aside from them both being black.

The BBC did quickly realise their error and issued an apology during the broadcast.

The News at Ten editor, Paul Royall also took to Twitter shortly afterwards to apologise and put the mistake down to 'human error.'

HT Huffington Post

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