John Torode has been sacked from MasterChef after being accused of racism.
It comes just days after his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace was sacked from the BBC show after a probe into his conduct. It was found 45 out of 83 complaints about Wallace’s behaviour were upheld following an investigation by MasterChef’s production company, Banijay UK.
But now, MasterChef has been hit with more scandal as Torode has been dismissed after being accused of using an “extremely offensive racist term”. The BBC confirmed that Torode’s contract on MasterChef “will not be renewed”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace- was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin.
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
“John Torode denies the allegation. He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
“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.”
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
Torode confirmed on Monday (July 14) that he was the subject of the racism allegation, upheld as part of an inquiry into separate allegations against his co-star Wallace. He denied the alleged incident happened, saying he has “no recollection” of it.
He wrote on Instagram: “Following publication of the Executive Summary of the Investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
“For the sake of transparency I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. The allegation is that I did so sometime between 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.
“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”
Banijay UK confirmed they had agreed with the BBC not to renew Torode’s contract. A statement from the company read: “In response to John Torode’s statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously.
“The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018.
“This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint.
“Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.”
Torode had presented MasterChef with Wallace since 2005, and the pair hosted the star-studded spin-off, Celebrity MasterChef.
The complaints upheld against Wallace included one of unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress. The majority of the claims related to inappropriate sexual language and humour.
Wallace said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him. He said “some of (his) humour and language missed the mark” and that he now sees “that certain patterns, shaped by traits I’ve only recently begun to understand, may have been misread.”
The presenter said he had received a “late autism diagnosis” which has helped him understand how he is “perceived”. He also criticised the BBC and claimed he had been subjected to a “trial by media”.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
