LONDON (AP) — The British authorities’s tradition secretary has held talks with the BBC because the broadcaster comes beneath rising scrutiny after considered one of its TV hosts drew an indignant backlash for dismissing sexual misconduct allegations in opposition to him.
Gregg Wallace, a long-time co-presenter on the favored cooking contest present “MasterChef,” is going through allegations from a number of ladies that he made inappropriate sexual feedback and behaved inappropriately on set over 17 years.
Wallace, 60, stated final week he was stepping away from the present whereas an investigation was launched into his alleged habits. However his case obtained additional consideration Sunday, when he stated in a social media put up that the complaints got here from “a handful of middle-class ladies of a sure age.”
His feedback angered a number of the ladies who made complaints in opposition to him. A spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s workplace described Wallace’s remarks as “completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”
The spokesperson, Dave Pares, stated Monday that Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy was searching for assurances from the BBC that the publicly funded broadcaster dealt with such complaints about office tradition correctly.
Wallace apologized for his feedback on Instagram on Monday, saying he must “take some time out.”
The BBC has confronted questions on the way it handles sexual misconduct allegations and the way Wallace had continued to entrance a few of its hottest exhibits for thus lengthy regardless of the complaints.
Tv presenter Aggie MacKenzie, who competed on “Celebrity MasterChef” in 2011, informed ITV on Monday that Wallace made “endless smutty jokes” and alleged that “he’s been allowed to carry on in his own sweet way for many, many years.”
She stated his feedback about his accusers illustrate “how he just has no insight or understanding of how he behaves. He just doesn’t get it.”
Others have alleged that Wallace undressed in entrance of ladies engaged on his exhibits, made feedback about his intercourse life or made ladies uncomfortable with sexualized jokes throughout filming.
The BBC reported that 13 individuals who labored with Wallace over a spread of exhibits have complained about inappropriate sexual feedback.
It reported that Wallace was warned by his employers after a criticism in 2018, and an inner investigation on the time discovered his habits was “unacceptable and unprofessional.”
Wallace’s legal professionals have denied that he “engages in behavior of a sexually harassing nature.”
The BBC, which has stated it has “robust processes” to take care of the difficulty, declined to touch upon Wallace’s case due to the continued investigation by “MasterChef”’s manufacturing firm.
