The Traitors star, Marzook Bana, known as Maz on the show, reportedly compared Israel to Nazi Germany in a Facebook post in 2021, with the BBC admitting it was ‘unaware’
11:05, 14 Jan 2026Updated 11:25, 14 Jan 2026
The Traitors star apologises over ‘offensive’ Facebook post (Image: BBC )
One of the stars of the new series of the Traitors has apologised for posting ‘offensive’ comments on social media.
Marzook Bana, 59, who was given the boot from the infamous Scottish castle last week after becoming the third person to be murdered by the Traitors, made the post in 2021 in which he reportedly compared Israel to Nazi Germany.
The BBC told the Mirror it was “completely unaware” of the comments, which are said to have likened a West Bank Israeli checkpoint to the actions of the Nazis, as well as accusations that Zionists are ‘forgetting the Holocaust’. Bana is said to have posted: “Nazis all over again, the oppressed have become the oppressors! The Zionists have short memories of what Hitler did.”
The Traitors star, Marzook Bana, known as Maz on the show, reportedly compared Israel to Nazi Germany in a Facebook post in 2021(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
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The father-of-five and retired police officer from Preston is said to have later continued in the thread that “to criticise Israel’s behaviour towards the Palestinian people is not antisemitic” – and slammed the “world’s political leaders” for “being subservient to Israel”, according to Jewish News.
Speaking to the publication, apologising for his post, Bana said: “I apologise for any offence my comments may have caused. I refute any allegations that I am antisemitic. My viewpoint has always been from a humanitarian perspective rather than a political one.”
The BBC issued a statement to the Mirror, stating: “We were completely unaware that these comments had been posted on social media, due to the fact they were made on third-party accounts. We do not agree with the views presented.”
Meanwhile, Studio Lambert, who produce the smash-hit BBC One show, admitted that the comments were not discovered during background checks, which they insisted were taken ‘extremely seriously’.
The company added: “The comments referenced in the article were made on third-party accounts rather than the individual’s own, so could not be identified through our checking process.
“We wish to be clear that political views play no part in participation, selection or decision-making within the game. And of course, the content of The Traitors is not political.”
Since the social media comments came to light, charity organisation Campaign Against Antisemitism has urged the BBC to take more accountability for its output and wants the broadcaster to issue an apology on Wednesday night’s show.
The campaign group issued a statement that slammed the BBC for ‘either doing no due diligence’ on the series’ cast members, or ‘finding these posts and not batting an eyelid’.
It called for an apology to be aired during tonight’s episode and for senior BBC staff responsible for the output of The Traitors to be questioned by the House of Commons culture select committee.
*The Traitors is on BBC One on Wednesday at 8pm.
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