Gregg Wallace’s Response to ‘MasterChef’ Misconduct Allegations Was ‘Inappropriate and Misogynistic,’ U.K. Government Says

variety.com:

Ellise Shafer A Downing Street spokesperson has weighed in on “MasterChef” U.K. host Gregg Wallace‘s response to misconduct allegations against him, calling it “inappropriate and misogynistic.” According to BBC News, who received the statement from the government, culture secretary Lisa Nandy has also talked with executives for the BBC, which airs the show, about his behavior.

Last week, news broke that Wallace would step down as the presenter of the U.K. version of “MasterChef” while claims of historical misconduct against him were investigated, which included allegations of sexually inappropriate comments by 13 people who worked with him from 2005 to 2022.

Wallace has denied the allegations through his lawyers and did so again in a video posted to his Instagram account on Sunday, where he said the accusations came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” “In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants on ‘MasterChef,’ have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo — can you imagine?” Wallace added.

The comment from Downing Street comes as MP Rupa Huq called for the BBC to pause airing the show during his investigation, saying that it could be “triggering” for the women who have come forward.