December 22nd 2024.
Penny Lancaster recently opened up about her decision to speak out against Gregg Wallace's alleged bullying behavior. The 53-year-old revealed that she was encouraged by her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, to come forward and share her experiences. It was announced last month that the BBC had launched an investigation into historical allegations of misconduct against Wallace, prompting him to step down from hosting MasterChef after 20 years. Sir Rod, 79, publicly criticized Wallace, calling him a "tubby, bald-headed bully" and claiming that he humiliated his wife when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef.
In a recent interview with The Sun, Lancaster shared that she was not surprised by her husband's support and the allegations against Wallace. She also revealed that seeing other women speak out and having her husband's support gave her the courage to come forward. "It is that bravery of: 'Maybe I am the only one? Maybe I won't be taken seriously?'" she said. "Then suddenly you have the backing and support of other people and you feel like you are going to be listened to."
Lancaster, who appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021, stated that Wallace's alleged behavior was no surprise to anyone in the industry. "I know a lot of people in the industry and it hasn't really been a surprise to anyone," she said. "It is just a shame that so many women feel like they can't reach out at the time because they don't feel supported – so hopefully this will have more of a mark on the industry to protect and safeguard."
Sir Rod's public post about Wallace in November sparked a conversation about the alleged misconduct. In his post, he wrote, "So Greg Wallace gets fired from MasterChef. Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show but you had that bit cut out didn't you? You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya." Wallace has denied any claims of inappropriate sexual comments or misconduct with his lawyers, stating, "It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature."
During an appearance on Loose Women on December 12, Lancaster revealed that she had no idea her husband was planning to post about the incident. "I didn't realize my husband had sent that post out until it was out," she shared. "And of course, you can imagine the influx of inquiries there were." She also spoke about her own experiences with Wallace's behavior, stating, "I most definitely was witness and victim to some of the bullying and harassment behavior of Gregg Wallace and, unfortunately, a lot of those involved in the production team were also witness to that."
Following the allegations, it was reported that 13 people across a range of shows had accused Wallace of making inappropriate sexual comments. This includes former Newsnight's Kirsty Wark, who competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. A BBC spokesperson stated, "We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behavior which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated." They also added that they will support external production companies in addressing any complaints or concerns. If you have a story to share, you can contact the entertainment team by email, phone, or by visiting their website.
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