Badenoch falsely claims ‘Adolescence’ is based on real events, despite show’s creators debunking the idea

Kemi Badenoch has sparked controversy after appearing to endorse a race-swap conspiracy theory about Netflix’s hit series Adolescence—despite admitting she hasn’t watched it. In an interview with GB News, the Conservative leader wrongly stated that the show was based on a real case, but that the race of the main character had been changed, echoing debunked claims spread by far-right commentators on social media.

The series, praised by Keir Starmer for its insight into youth radicalisation, follows a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a schoolmate. However, co-creator Jack Thorne has categorically denied any connection to real-life events, dismissing accusations of race-swapping as “wholly untrue.”

Despite lacking evidence, Badenoch told GB News:

“My understanding is that the boy who committed that crime was not white. The prime minister should not be building policy on fiction.”

She doubled down in a separate LBC interview, insisting the show was “fundamentally changed” from a true story—though she later admitted she hadn’t actually seen it, saying:

“I don’t have time to watch anything these days, to be honest.”

The baseless claim has been widely circulated on social media, particularly by far-right influencers such as Ian Miles Cheong. His viral post alleging an “anti-white agenda” in the show caught the attention of Elon Musk, who simply responded: “Wow.”

Starmer, who recently hosted Adolescence’s creators at Downing Street, criticised Badenoch for amplifying misinformation instead of focusing on real issues. Thorne also blasted the claims, saying:

“There is no part of this that’s based on a true story, not one single part.”

The backlash raises fresh questions about Badenoch’s judgement and her reliance on social media narratives over verified facts.