Gregg Wallace: Masterchef host denies inappropriate sexual comments
Gregg Wallace, the host of MasterChef, has rejected claims that he made inappropriate sexual remarks to a female colleague.
According to The Sun, Wallace was brought to the attention of BBC executives after allegations surfaced that he had removed his shirt and spoke boastfully about his sexual experiences to a female participant during the 2018 episode of Impossible Celebrities.
In an Instagram story shared on Monday, Wallace mentioned that the situation was looked into back then, and the conclusion was that "I hadn't made any sexual remarks."
The BBC stated that it does not accept any kind of inappropriate conduct and has strong procedures established to address such issues.
The BBC has reached out to Wallace for his thoughts on the matter.
As reported by an unidentified source in The Sun, Wallace faced allegations of regularly making "inappropriate remarks" to a younger colleague during their time on the panel show.
"According to the source, Gregg seemed to believe it was all just lighthearted teasing and reportedly made a few remarks in front of the live crowd."
It's also reported that he discussed his intimate relationship with his partner back then.
"The crew involved in the show were extremely embarrassed and informed the higher-ups at the BBC about the situation," the insider revealed.
On Monday, Wallace turned to social media to address the allegations, sharing two stories on Instagram.
In the first instance, he mentioned that the BBC quickly looked into the matter when it took place six years ago, and the conclusion was that I hadn’t made any sexual comments.
"Do I really need to go over this once more? I didn't make any inappropriate comments. I appreciate your attention."
He followed up with another post, stating, "No one accused me of flirting or making advances towards anyone six years ago."
"I mention this because of my wife, Anna. I've always remained loyal to her."
He mentioned that throughout the twelve years he has been with his wife, he has "never engaged in flirtation or pursued anyone."
"It's crucial to clarify that I am faithful to my wife, as I want to avoid any misunderstandings."
Wallace is most recognized for being a co-host on the cooking program MasterChef.
The accusations arrive during a challenging period for the BBC. Earlier this year, Huw Edwards, the network's former top news anchor, was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting to charges related to child sex abuse images.
In August, Jermaine Jenas, known for hosting The One Show and being a contributor on Match of the Day for the BBC, was dismissed by the organization after receiving complaints regarding his behavior at work.
A representative from the BBC stated, "Although we don’t discuss specific individuals, we take any concerns seriously and address them quickly and appropriately. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of misconduct and have established strong procedures to handle such matters."
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