Comic Relief has been plunged into crisis after its chairman resigned over the charity's stance on Gaza, it can be revealed.
Eric Salama resigned after saying Comic Relief management was "addressing an issue that I thought was completely wrong and that I couldn't live with".
At issue is said to have been the charity's decision to join dozens of other organizations in calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
Comic Relief admitted that the fallout arose from "a position taken on a public issue without prior consultation with the board or Eric as chairman".
The move has raised questions about the governance of one of Britain's leading charities. It was founded in 1985 by Richard Curtis, the director and screenwriter, and Sir Lenny Henry in response to the famine in Ethiopia.
There are fears that corporate donors may shy away from associating with organizations perceived to be taking sides in the conflict.
The row could also threaten Comic Relief's partnership with the BBC, which has itself been criticized for alleged bias in its coverage of the Gaza-Israel conflict. The calls for a ceasefire have also divided the Labor Party.
Comic Relief has previously been embroiled in controversy over issues of a 'white savior complex' in its work in African countries, although its defenders say it always works with local organizations and people.
The annual Red Nose Day Appeal, which is televised and attracts a crowd of pop stars, celebrities, athletes, musicians and ordinary viewers, has raised more than £1.4 billion since its first edition in 1988.
Mr Salama, who was appointed chairman in June 2020, wrote on Twitter: "I admired Richard Curtis and Lenny Henry from afar before I joined and have even more respect, admiration and love for two great people now that I have to know them .
"All of this made this past week particularly sad for me, as I resigned from my position prematurely and let some people down in the process."
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He added: "But there are times in life when principles really matter more than any job. And last week was one of those moments where management addressed an issue that I thought was completely wrong and that I couldn't live with."
The demands of the 'cease now' petition signed by Comic Relief included calls for the release of all civilian hostages, especially children and the elderly.
It also calls for humanitarian convoys to be allowed to reach UN facilities, schools, hospitals and health facilities in northern Gaza and for Israel to withdraw its orders for civilians to leave northern Gaza.
The petition states: "We have witnessed unfathomable death and destruction in the Gaza Strip and Israel."
It goes on to condemn the Israeli army for allegedly bombing civilians "as they tried to flee or as soon as they arrived in southern Gaza," adding: "Neighborhoods have been destroyed and turned into complete rubble. Palestinians looking for safety have nowhere to go."
Comic Relief said in a statement on its website: "Eric has decided to step down as Chairman of Comic Relief and has brought forward the date of his departure from the previously announced retirement date of March 2024. Eric's decision relates to a position taken on a public issue without prior consultation with the board or Eric as chairman."
Comic Relief declined to say exactly what led to Mr Salama's resignation when asked by The Telegraph about the Gaza issue.
A spokesperson for the charity told the Telegraph: "While we do not comment on internal matters relating to our staff or members of the board, we have announced that Eric has brought forward the date of his departure."
The charity added: "Comic Relief was founded in response to a humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, and we have joined more than 700 charities, including many of the UK's most prominent, in signing a petition on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel. focused on the need to protect civilians and children on all sides of the conflict."
Other charities that have signed the petition include Palestinian groups, as well as the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Oxfam, the Baptist Union of Wales, and human rights and environmental activists.
High-profile role in City
Mr Salama was appointed chairman of Comic Relief after a stellar career in the city, where he rose to become chairman of WPP's consumer insights arm, Verian Group, formerly Kantar. He was also CEO of Kantar and non-executive director of the British Museum.
In a statement posted online, Comic Relief said Mr Salama's position would be taken over by Tom Shropshire, one of its trustees.
Following his appointment as interim chairman, Mr Shropshire said: "On behalf of the board and team at Comic Relief, I would like to thank Eric for all he has done for the charity, including steering Comic Relief through the Covid-19 pandemic and helping to shape our current strategy.
"We wish Eric all the best in the future and look forward to his continued support in the important work being done by Comic Relief and its partners."
Mr Salama was contacted for comment.
Accusations of bias
Comic Relief's broadcast partner, the BBC, is already facing accusations of bias in the Gaza-Israel conflict and Mr Salama's sudden resignation comes after company staff accused the BBC of double standards after they were told not to participate this weekend to participate in a march against anti-Semitism.
Employees working in current affairs and factual journalism who have requested permission to go to the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism march in London have been referred to the impartiality rules.
According to the rules, the editors "may not participate in public demonstrations or meetings on controversial issues."
Jewish workers have argued that protesting against racism should not be seen as a controversial or partisan issue, and that the BBC should not stand in their way.
A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is clear that antisemitism is abhorrent. We have set guidelines around marches, which explains that different considerations apply depending on what you do for the BBC.
"Corporately, we did not release any staff communications regarding a specific march this weekend, but this does not mean that there have not been discussions among colleagues considering the guidelines."
