Gregg Wallace has responded to the news that John Torode has been fired from MasterChef, revealing what he really thinks of his former co-host Greg Wallace, despite previously saying he won’t be the last.
Former MasterChef star Gregg Wallace has responded to John Torode’s contract not being renewed at the BBC cooking programme following racism allegations. Wallace, 60, was only recently axed from the series following an investigation into his inappropriate behaviour.
Banijay – which produces MasterChef – released a report into Wallace’s behaviour on the show, conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin. The company’s investigation substantiated 45 of the allegations made against the presenter, the majority of which related to inappropriate sexual language and humour.
Meanwhile, a small number of allegations relating to the star being in a state of undress and one claim of unwanted physical contact were also substantiated. Torode, who hosted MasterChef for nearly 20 years, confirmed recently he was the person alleged to have used racist language after an investigation into Wallace. However, Torode claimed he had no memory of making the comment and denies it ever happened. He is reportedly set to take legal actions against his former employers.
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Earlier this month, the BBC confirmed Torode’s contract will not be renewed, saying: “The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”
Banijay, the production company, added that it was “incredibly seriously” about the situation. Wallace responded to the news by saying he “won’t be the last” to make headlines following Banijay and the BBC’s statement.
Wallace said in a new interview, “Johnny Torode is not a racist. John is not a racist despite my 30-year friendship. I’ll show you the incredible diversity of the people he has supported over the years as MasterChef winners as proof of that.
There is no way a racist person can be a racist, he continued to The Sun. No way . And I want no one to go through what I’ve been through, so I extend my sympathies to John.
Torode claimed he learned from reading media reports that he had been fired from MasterChef for using racist terminology, but that he now believes it’s time to pass the cutting board to someone else.
The celebrity chef, 59, said he had not heard from the BBC or the production company Banijay UK, and repeated that he still had no recollection of the accusation against him, in a statement posted on his Instagram account on July 15.
He then posted a lengthy statement on Instagram, saying: “Although I haven’t heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay, I am seeing and reading that I’ve been “sacked” from MasterChef and that I have no memory of what I’m accused of.
The inquiry couldn’t even state when I was supposed to have made a mistake. I had hoped that I would have some influence when I left a show that I’ve worked on since its relaunch in 2005, but events in the last few days seem to have prevented that.
A report by Lewis Silkin, which was released on July 14, and which was a result of Wallace’s dismissal, stated that 45 of the 83 allegations made against him during his time on the show were supported, including one claiming that he had made “unwelcome physical contact.”
Wallace said in a statement following the release of the findings, “My family and I have lived under a cloud for eight months. media trial, fueled by clickbait and rumors. None of my serious allegations were accepted.
I made amends to the unresolved issue of unwanted touching, but I now have to accept a different perspective, and I feel terribly sorry for any inconvenience. It was never meant to be. I’m relieved that the Banijay report fully acknowledges how much my behavior changed in 2018. Some of my language and humor were off the mark.
He continued, “I never intended to harm or humiliate.” On and off the screen, I’ve always made an effort to support and warm up MasterChef. After nearly 20 years on the show, I’ve come to the conclusion that some patterns may have been misinterpreted due to characteristics I’ve only recently come to understand.
I also acknowledge that more could have been done, both from my side, to address earlier concerns. I’ve learned a lot about how I communicate and how I’m perceived thanks to my late diagnosis. I’m still learning. I’m grateful for all the help they’ve received from Banijay. In the end, the BBC exposed me to the media’s accusations and the harm it left behind.
Thank you, to those who’ve shown kindness, Wallace continued. It was significant. It was brutal. Modern broadcasting has become a dangerous place for a working-class man who speaks directly.
“This time, I was the headliner.” But not everyone will be here. If the BBC continues in this direction, where it is more important to preserve its legacy than to safeguard people, there will be more casualties. I’ll take my next step, for my part, into consideration with full legal support.
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Source: Mirror
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