“BBC left me exposed to trial by media” — Gregg Wallace addresses being fired from MasterChef amid allegations and recent Banijay investigation report

Gregg Wallace, the MasterChef presenter who was fired on grounds of misconduct, released a statement on Instagram. His declaration comes after the production company Banijay UK and the BBC published a report on the investigation into the allegations against him.

In his statement, although he thanked Banijay for the support, he said he was upset with the BBC. Gregg Wallace wrote:

“Banijay have given me great support, and I thank them. But in the end, the BBC left me exposed to trial by media and the damage it leaves in its wake. To those who've shown kindness, thank you. It mattered.”

Wallace shared that his family had spent eight months dealing with intense media scrutiny, fueled by rumors and clickbait. He wrote that none of the serious accusations against him were proven true.

Gregg Wallace disputed the claim of unwanted touching but acknowledged there was a difference in how it was perceived. He expressed regret for upsetting people, saying it was never his intention. He wrote:

“I'm relieved that the Banijay report fully recognises that my behaviour changed profoundly in 2018. Some of my humour and language missed the mark. I never set out to harm or humiliate. I always tried to bring warmth and support to MasterChef, on screen and off.”

Gregg Wallace reflected that after almost 20 years on the show, he realized some of his behaviors might have been misunderstood. He also admitted that he and the other stakeholders could have acted proactively in addressing the issues.

What was the investigative law firm’s statement about Gregg Wallace’s autism diagnosis?

In his statement, Wallace mentioned his autism diagnosis, which he said he didn’t get sooner. He said the diagnosis helped him understand the ways in which he communicates. Lewis Silkin, the law firm that investigated the claims against him, mentioned in its report:

“The findings made should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity. Mr Wallace accepts that his diagnosis may help to explain some of his actions, but he does not wish to hide behind it.”

Gregg Wallace shared that the experience had been tough. He felt that for someone from a working-class background with a straightforward way of speaking, modern broadcasting had become risky. This time, he was the focus, but he believed others could face the same in the future. He continued:

“There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move.”

According to The Mirror UK, the BBC said it agreed with the findings and informed Gregg Wallace that they would not work with him again. They explained that the investigation found many claims of inappropriate behavior over 19 years, which went against the BBC’s values and standards.

They admitted that even though they didn’t know everything at the time, they missed chances to deal with the problem earlier.

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Also Read: Was Gregg Wallace sacked from MasterChef? BBC issues statement as barrage of allegations surface against the TV presenter following an investigation

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