EXCLUSIVE: MiMi Aye claims she was subjected to bullying and racism at a MasterChef event for food bloggers in 2010 and tried to complain at the time but feared repercussions
Food author MiMi Aye has branded axed MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace ‘MasterTw*ts’ – but warned they will ‘rise again’.
She claimed she was subjected to bullying and racism at a MasterChef event for food bloggers in 2010. MiMi, 45, founder of high profile supper club Burmese Food and Beyond, said she tried to complain at the time but feared repercussions within the food industry.
Following the downfalls of Torode and Wallace she posted on her BlueSky social media account: “Took 14 years but thoroughly enjoying the downfall of the MasterTw*ts. I’ve no doubt they’ll rise again like the scum that they are.”
MiMi said the event turned to ‘nasty bullying’ which left her unable to watch the pair on telly without feeling sick.
She said in a thread on her account the duo had told she was their ‘favourite blogger’ and ‘helped bump their ratings’.
“I was even due to do a pop-up at one of their previous winner’s restaurants and they had said to me that they would come along to support, promote, and even film it, but then, like I said, they ghosted me on all fronts,” she said.
She said Wallace had told her that her name was ‘silly’ and ‘proceeded to call me ‘You-You’ for the rest of the day’.
When she tried to make a ‘formal complaint’ over his alleged ‘casual racism’ to his then-production company they said they would ‘set up a mediation and then ghosted me’.
Posting video footage of the event she said: “I was too scared/demoralised to pursue it because I was hoping to work in the food industry (I don’t give a s*** now). I’m assuming the same thing happened to anyone who tried to make any kind of complaint about him.
“Torode actually threatened me for writing a negative review of his restaurant. JT tried to poke me in the chest and said he’d read my blog and then he said that he knew where I lived. My friend got in between us and physically shielded me.
“He then quoted from the review and it dawned on me that he had mixed me up with someone else. I tried to tell him this but that’s when they both walked out.
“I had nightmares for a week afterwards of them having a go at me and couldn’t bear to see them on the telly for months without feeling physically sick.
“The threat was terrifying at the time and for months afterwards, but JT did then actually apologise to me at a Good Food Show later on. GW is 100% going to come out of this smelling of roses and probably get a new TV series.”
Wallace, 60, was given the boot after a report upheld 45 out of 83 allegations against him. Most related to inappropriate sexual language, cultural insensitivity and racist comments. One involved ‘unwelcome physical contact’ and another of being in a state of undress.
Wallace said he was ‘deeply sorry for any distress caused’, adding following his diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder during the probe: “I see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I’ve only recently begun to understand, may have been misread.”
A day later Torode, 59, was told by the BBC his contract was not being renewed after it upheld a complaint he had used ‘an extremely offensive racist term’.
It reportedly related to him singing the lyrics from Kanye West’s hit single Gold Digger – which uses the N-word twice – in a gathering with colleagues after filming had finished.
Torode has denied the allegation saying he had no recollection of the alleged incident and did not believe it happened.
He has pulled out of headlining the Seaham Food Festival in Co Durham on August 2 and 3.
A Durham County Council spokesman said: “We appreciate this has been a difficult time for John and, as a result, he has decided to take some time out. He will, therefore, not be appearing at this year’s Seaham Food Festival.”
Though both presenters have been axed the future of MasterChef is secure on the BBC until at least 2028 thanks to a deal signed with production company Banijay three years ago.
One series is in the can but could be shelved as it stars Wallace and Torode.
Neither had responded to requests for comment on MiMi’s claims.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
