Plunket resigns from broadcasting watchdog

Veteran journalist Sean Plunket has resigned from the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The former broadcaster faced outrage after asking on Twitter if ‘‘anyone else’’ felt for disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Speaking after his resignation, Plunket remained defiant, saying he did not regret the tweet.

He resigned less than two weeks after he took a seat on the authority, for what was supposed to be a three-yearterm. The authority is responsible for ruling on official broadcasting complaints.

The authority and Plunket issued a joint statement announcing his resignation on Friday afternoon. Plunket said earlier in the day that his future with the BSA was ‘‘up to them’’. He later said the decision to resign was his, made in the interests of the authority. ‘‘The organisation has an important function to fulfil,’’ he said.

After a career in broadcasting, journalism and most recently in political publicity, Plunket said he had been looking forward to his new role. The controversial tweet was posted on Wednesday and was followed quickly by Plunket’s assertions that he thought Weinstein deserved all the scrutiny he was receiving.