Gregg Wallace has apologised after backlash against his comments that ‘middle class women of a certain age’ are behind complaints against him.
The celebrity chef apologised for ‘any offence I caused’ after his controversial comments on Instagram on the weekend.
The former greengrocer has stepped back from the BBC‘s Masterchef while allegations into alleged misconduct are investigated.
Wallace is facing claims from at least 13 women who have accused him of inappropriate behaviour, including roaming around on set naked with a sock on his penis.
In a fresh video on social media posted this afternoon, the under-fire chef said: ‘I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I have caused to a lot of people.
‘I wasn’t in a good headspace when I posted it. I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion.
‘I felt very alone [and] under siege yesterday when I posted it. It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway.
‘I hope you understand and I do hope that you can accept my apology.’
The celebrity chef apologised for ‘any offence I caused’ after his controversial comments on Instagram on the weekend
Since allegations made against Gregg, his TV aide has failed to address the ongoing dispute and axing of his cohost from the show
Wallace’s lawyers deny that he engages in any behaviour that amounts to sexual harassment.
It came as Sir Keir Starmer said Wallace was ‘completely inappropriate and misogynistic’ for blaming ‘middle class women of a certain’ age for his MasterChef ruination amid growing pressure on the BBC to take the show off air.
And in a further sign of Wallace’s fury, he has today unfollowed co-host John Torode and his wife on social media.
After spending nearly two decades presenting Britain’s best-loved cooking show together, the legacy of famed duo Gregg Wallace and John Torode appears to have come crashing down in just a matter of months.
Torode has not uttered a word on Wallace’s MasterChef exit, despite working together since 2005.
But previous comments in which he admitted he had never been a ‘friend’ of Wallace’s, as well as claims about them moving to opposite sides of the room when the cameras cut, show that all was not well in their partnership.
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
