Greg Wallace's dismissal of his accuser as a “middle-class woman of a certain age” has fueled further outrage over his actions, after the BBC received multiple complaints about him over a 14-year period. It became clear.
The company and other broadcasters have faced growing questions about how the MasterChef host was allowed to remain on screen despite a series of allegations of misconduct dating back to at least 2012. There is.
It was revealed this weekend that the company had received at least three other complaints about Mr Wallace between 2012 and 2022.
Former England and Wales victims' commissioner Vera Baird KC has accused the BBC of “entering the dark ages” by “tolerating” allegedly sexually inappropriate behavior by male stars.
“It is shocking to see the BBC, which appears to be ignoring its duty to protect those on television, repeatedly condone this kind of behavior,” she told the Guardian.
The allegations surrounding Wallace come after the BBC was accused of covering up the Jimmy Savile scandal last year and controversy over its handling of allegations against Huw Edwards.
Mr. Wallace's lawyer has denied sexual harassment, but on Sunday described his accusers as “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age from Celebrity MasterChef.”
The broadcaster, who has appeared on the BBC's MasterChef since 2005, claimed to have worked with more than 4,000 contestants on the cooking show and said: MasterChef, did you make a sexual comment or sexual innuendo? Can you imagine?
Ms Wallace, 60, insisted that “absolutely no” staff on other shows had complained about her.
he said in an Instagram video. “Look, this is important to me. I've been doing Celebrity MasterChef, Amateurs, Professionals, 'Eat Well for Less?' and 'Inside the Factory' for 20 years. Do you know how many staff there are? We have different types of staff. Imagine the people I've worked with. Do you know how many staff members complained about me at that time? Not at all. zero. Seriously. “
Wallace stepped down from the role of MasterChef Last week, amid investigations into allegations of past misconduct (including three cases of inappropriate touching).
Actor and author Emma Kennedy, who won Celebrity Masterchef in 2012, said in response to Wallace's video that she complained about his behavior at the time, saying, “A woman's age doesn't matter.”
Kennedy claims that in 2012, she complained to production staff that the host appeared to touch another woman's buttocks.
“If you act inappropriately, you act inappropriately,” she told BBC News. “It's as old as the tide that people accused of inappropriate behavior try to turn the tables on those who call them out and change the narrative.”
She added: “It's ridiculous to play the 'They're attacking me because I'm working class' card.”
Presenter Kirsty Allsopp on Sunday became the latest person to accuse Mr Wallace of inappropriate comments, saying she mentioned sex shortly after meeting him.
Writing for X on Sunday, co-host of Location, Location, Location said: “Less than an hour after I met Greg Wallace, he told me about the sexual activity he and his then-partner enjoyed 'every morning.' She had just left the room and we was in the middle of filming the pilot.
“Did he realize how embarrassed I was? That was totally unprofessional.”
Mr Allsop added: “Why don't you say anything? Because you're out of order, you're embarrassed, you're rude, you're shocked, you're waiting for a male colleague to chime in, you don't want to stir up trouble.” Because you feel it, and you think it's better to assume you misheard or misunderstood and get on with your day. Or they just don't get the joke. ”
Labor MP Diane Abbott, a mother in the Commons, said Mr Wallace's firm response to his accusers showed he “didn't get it”.
“Being a middle-class woman of a certain age is not a crime,” she says. “In the past [a man] You could grope and harass women, but it was really about power. Women were not in a position to do or say anything. He doesn't understand that the world is moving forward. ”
Labor MP Harriet Harman said: “Older middle-class women… [are] I can take on more challenges than junior female freelancers.” She added: “It's our duty.”
Mr Baird, a former government official and barrister, described Mr Wallace's comments as “typical behavior of sexually predatory men”. As soon as he is criticized for his actions, he disparages those who criticize him and disparages women – implying that they are all delicate flowers, middle class, and of a certain age. ” she added.
Ms Baird described the allegations as “completely unprofessional”, but added that “working class women also don't want men to take off their clothes in front of them and talk about sex”. He said he was offended by Wallace's comments.
On Sunday night, the former MasterChef contestant told Sky News that the current allegations against Wallace were “the tip of the iceberg”. Ann A BBC News investigation revealed that Wallace is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people he worked with over a 17-year period.
In 2017, BBC bosses warned Mr Wallace of his behavior following a complaint from broadcaster Asma Mir.
Further complaints led to a formal HR investigation in 2018, which found that “a number of aspects [Wallace’s] The behavior was unacceptable and unprofessional,” BBC News reported.
BBC officials said it was wrong to say the company did not take action because of “interventions” in 2017 and 2018.
The BBC said in a statement: “We take all issues raised seriously and have strong processes in place to deal with them. We have always been clear that any behavior that falls below the standards expected of the BBC will not be tolerated. I'm making it clear.
“Where an individual is contracted directly to an outside production company, we will share any complaints or concerns with that company and will always support them in addressing them.”
The corporation said it would be inappropriate to comment further due to an ongoing investigation by MasterChef production company Banijay UK.
