November 30th 2024.
MasterChef host Gregg Wallace recently shared a cryptic update on his Instagram account, following fresh accusations that he groped three women. The 60-year-old star made the decision to step down from his role on the popular BBC cooking competition, after it was announced that production company Banijay was investigating historical allegations of misconduct. These formal complaints, which included one from Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, claimed that Wallace had made inappropriate sexual jokes and behaved in a manner that was deemed unacceptable.
In addition to these complaints, three women have also come forward with allegations that Wallace had groped them in different incidents both on and off set. As a result, Wallace has temporarily stepped down from his MasterChef duties while the investigation is underway. In a cryptic update on his Instagram stories, he posted a picture of a gingerbread man buried in a pile of whipped cream with the caption, "enjoy your weekend."
This is not the first time that Wallace has addressed the allegations. Previously, he shared a video on Instagram expressing his gratitude for the support he has received so far. He also shared an image from an article by The Telegraph, which compared him to controversial comedian Bernard Manning but described him as a "top bloke." However, the star has faced backlash for his behavior, with many famous faces coming forward to speak out against him.
One former contestant claimed that Wallace had groped her while the cameras were rolling on set. She also shared that when she moved away, Wallace allegedly called her a "stupid cow" and later made derogatory comments about her. Another woman accused Wallace of squeezing her bottom in a crowded pub while making lewd remarks.
Emma Kennedy, a Celebrity MasterChef contestant, also claimed to have witnessed Wallace groping a camera assistant during a photo shoot in 2012. According to Kennedy, the incident was brought to the attention of production, but no action was taken. Similarly, former contestant Dr. Kate Tomas accused Wallace of sexual harassment during her time on the show in 2008. She also accused him of being racist after he impersonated an Indian accent in front of an Indian co-worker.
The latest allegations against Wallace also include a former production member who claimed that he held her head and thrust his body toward her while she was cleaning a mark from his trousers. The complaint also detailed a time when Wallace allegedly walked onto the set naked, wearing only a sock on his penis, and was described as being "very touchy feely."
Amidst these accusations, Newsnight host Kirsty Wark also came forward and recounted a "sexualized" joke that Wallace had told her. She described the remarks as being "really, really in the wrong place." A number of celebrities have spoken out against Wallace, including Sir Rod Stewart, who called him a "tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully" for his treatment of his wife, Penny Lancaster, on the show.
Wallace's lawyers have denied the allegations, stating that it is "entirely false" that he engages in any behavior of a sexually harassing nature. In a statement, a spokesperson for Wallace said that they take any issues raised seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them. They also stated that any behavior that falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. The production company, Banijay, has also been made aware of the complaints and will be addressing them accordingly. Metro has reached out to Wallace's representatives for comment.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
