Gregg Wallace, the ex-exiled masterchef, has responded to his dismissal from the BBC with accusations of inappropriate behavior, including those that he described as “groper, flasher, and sex pest.”
Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has spoken out following his exit from the BBC, insisting he has been misrepresented and unfairly compared to serious sex offenders.
Wallace, 60, said in a moving interview, “I’m not a flasher, sex pest, or groper.” He made it clear that he is not trying to win any sympathy by acknowledging some unfavorable comments in the past and said, “I’m not looking to play the victim.”
Wallace was removed from MasterChef after an independent investigation upheld 45 of 83 complaints against him, made by 41 individuals.
He responded to the allegations by saying, “I’m not a groper.” I’m not a flasher, so people think I’ve been exposing myself by putting my pants down. I’m perceived as a sex pest by some. I’m not. I’m not sexist, misogynist, or anything else. There have never been any sexual harassment accusations.
READ MORE: Gregg Wallace breaks silence on John Torode MasterChef axe with warning to TV stars
“I have seen myself written about in the same sentence as Jimmy Savile and Huw Edwards, paedophiles and sex offenders. That is just so, so horrific.”
Another upheld allegation involves Wallace touching a woman at a party and dates back 15 years. He acknowledges touching her bottom, but he says he thought it was a consensual situation.
He thought the woman had shared personal information about her life with him and given him her phone number as a sign of interest. Wallace claims that Wallace asserts that the interaction was acknowledged even in the official report.
One of the allegations that has been refuted is related to a teenage Wallace who walked out of his dressing room with only a pair of socks over his genitalia 18 years ago. He explained that there were only a few friends’ close friends nearby and that the studio was closed at the time with no contestants present.
Those who witnessed the act were either amused or unfazed because, in Wallace’s opinion, it was intended as a joke. No one was distressed by the situation, he claims.
Wallace further explained the significance of the sock incident, claiming that Monica Galetti and four other show coworkers sat just outside of his dressing room. He said, “I was getting changed to attend a black tie or benefit event.”
I wore my shirt and bow tie. They are the only ones who are outside the door. I unfastened the sock, opened the door, and left for “Wahey!” and once more unlock the door. Nobody was distressed, he added, adding that those present were either amused or perplexed.
The ex-MasterChef judge also addressed more allegations, most notably one from a woman who claimed he had “altered” exposing himself, according to the BBC. He said, “Angrily,” and that really hurt me. According to the investigation, this person’s story is untrue.
Wallace asserted that he was open to revealing his torso and that he frequently changed clothes in front of others.
He also acknowledged that his use of sexualized or inappropriate remarks, which he fully accepts, was a major source of the received criticism. He attributes that behavior to his upbringing, though.
Wallace admitted to using inappropriate language in response to the situation and said, “Over the past eight months or so, I have learned a lot about myself… I am so sorry for anyone who has hurt me now that I am aware.
I don’t expect anyone to feel any sympathy for me, but I don’t believe I’m a bad person.
