UPDATED 06.11 a.m. PT: Gregg Wallace has now apologized for suggesting allegations made against him of inappropriate behavior came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.”
After a UK government spokesperson called the MasterChef presenter’s remarks “inappropriate and misogynistic,” Wallace took to Instagram once again to fall on his sword and say he will take some time out.
“I want to apologize for any offense that I caused with my post yesterday, and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people,” he said. “I wasn’t in a good head space when I posted it. I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege, yesterday, when I posted it.”
Wallace added that “it’s obvious to me I need to take some time out” while an investigation into his behavior on set is conducted by MasterChef producer Banijay UK.
PREVIOUS: The Gregg Wallace saga has reached the highest echelons of UK government.
A Downing Street spokesperson just told the BBC that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of a BBC News investigation into Wallace’s behavior.
The spokesperson called Wallace’s defence of his actions “inappropriate and misogynistic.”
Wallace yesterday spoke out for the first time about the accusations from more than a dozen women including ex-Newsnight host Kirsty Wark by claiming they come from a “handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” Wallace finished his statement by saying: “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?”
The UK government was clearly left less than impressed by his remarks. This morning, MP Rupa Huq, whose sister used to present Blue Peter, said MasterChef should be paused while Wallace’s behavior is probed by producer Banijay UK. Banijay and the BBC have previously said cameras will continue rolling while Wallace is stood down as presenter.
The accusations against Wallace were published in a BBC News investigation from 13 women including Wark, who came on the record to say the 60-year-old TV host told stories and made jokes of a “sexualized nature” on at least two occasions in front of colleagues and contestants. Since then, the likes of Rod Stewart have also come out publicly against Wallace. Stewart said Wallace humiliated his wife Penny Lancaster when she was on MasterChef. Radio host Aasmah Mir also said she complained to the BBC several years ago about inappropriate comments Wallace had allegedly made during filming.
The BBC has said it gave Wallace a 90-minute dressing down several years ago relating to his behavior on a different show, Impossible Celebrities. In a letter to BBC News last week, Wallace’s lawyers denied he engaged in behavior of a “sexually harassing nature.”