Latest news with #allegation
CNN
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Epstein's ex-girlfriend describes his relationship with Trump
Stacey Williams, a former Sports Illustrated model who briefly dated Jeffrey Epstein speaks with CNN's Brianna Keilar and describes Epstein's relationship with Donald Trump. She also alleges Trump once groped her in 1993, but he denies the claim.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
John Torode's MasterChef contract not renewed after racist language allegation
John Torode will not return to MasterChef after its producers confirmed his contract would not be renewed after an allegation of using racist language. The Australian -born chef (59) had confirmed on Monday evening he was the subject of an allegation that was upheld as part of an inquiry into the behaviour of his former co-presenter Gregg Wallace . A spokesperson for the production company Banijay UK said on Tuesday: '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.' READ MORE A BBC spokesperson said the allegation against Torode 'involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace', which was 'investigated and substantiated' by the independent investigation led by Lewis Silkin. They added: '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.' In a statement on Instagram on Tuesday, Torode said: 'Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay, I am seeing and reading that I've been 'sacked' from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of. The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong. 'I'd hoped that I'd have some say in my exit from a show I've worked on since its relaunch in 2005, but events in last few seem to have prevented that.' He added: 'Personally I have loved every minute working on MasterChef, but it's time to pass the cutlery to someone else. For whoever takes over, love it as I have.' The report on Wallace, commissioned by Banijay UK, found that 45 out of 83 allegations against him were substantiated, alongside two stand-alone allegations made against other people. Wallace (60) was sacked last week from MasterChef before the release of the report, which included one allegation of 'unwelcome physical contact' that was upheld. He said he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he had 'never set out to harm or humiliate'. MasterChef was relaunched in 2005 with Torode and Wallace as presenters. The latest development means Torode's time at MasterChef is in effect over already as the 2025 series has already been shot and delivered to the BBC, though it has not been aired. Torode will not be contracted for any more episodes. His departure creates an even greater problem for the BBC director general, Tim Davie, over the current, unaired series of the show. He was already facing a tough decision over whether or not to air it, as Wallace features prominently throughout. The Guardian revealed Wallace appears as a judge right until the series finale. It was only then that he stood back from the role amid allegations over his behaviour. Torode features throughout the whole series. John Torode (left) with fellow Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace in 2008. Photograph: Anthony Devlin /PA Speaking at the launch of the BBC's annual report, Davie said he had not made a decision over the series but he was mindful of the contestants who had worked hard throughout it. 'One of my overwhelming concerns is that we've got all the amateur chefs that gave their heart and soul to this programme,' he said. 'We have to reflect on that, talk to them – and I'm sure Banijay are doing that – consult them, think about the audience, and then make a call. That's what we're going through now.' He said there was a future for the show despite the allegations against Wallace and Torode. Production has only recently moved to new studios. 'A great programme that's well loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals,' Davie said. In an interview with BBC News on Tuesday evening, Davie said he saw the situation as an opportunity for the corporation to 'reset'. He said he was not directly involved with the matter but had been told about the recommendation not to renew Torode's contract and was 'happy that the team were taking action'. Davie added: 'It's really important that we are taking this seriously. It's a reset where we make sure that people are living up to the values we expect across the board.' Asked exactly what Torode was alleged to have said, the BBC's director general replied: 'I'm not going to give you the exact term because I think, frankly, it was serious racist term, a serious racist term, which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape or form.' – Guardian
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The shocking moment John Torode turned air blue at Masterchef contestant - as he's sacked for using 'extremely offensive racist term'
Australian-born chef John Torode has been at the helm of MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace for 20 years – and the duo have shared some iconic moments. The 59-year-old, who was born in Sydney in 1965, was a resident chef on This Morning before he achieved widespread fame with Wallace on the BBC show. But his contract on MasterChef will not be renewed after he was the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of his co-presenter Wallace. The report, commissioned by production company Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone claims against other people, including one for using 'extremely offensive' racist language. Torode then confirmed he was the subject of the allegation but had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. Uncensored swearing (Masterchef, 2022) Masterchef viewers were left shocked during an episode in April 2022 when Torode swore at contestant Pookie Tredell - uncensored - before the 9pm watershed. Torode blasted the Birmingham-based retired beauty salon owner for dropping teammates 'in the s***' when he accused them of not communicating. The host was concerned that Pookie and her teammates were not talking to each other properly despite having to present their food at the same time to be served. 'We've got three minutes and a half left,' Pookie shouted before approaching Torode with her dish – but she was quickly forced to go back to her work station. Torode told her: 'Pookie, you need to talk to them. Go back and tell them you put their plate on the pass and tell them. 'Because you've just done what's commonly known as dropped them in the s***.' Torode explained that although Pookie presented her dish, he could not serve the table because the dishes from her teammates were not ready. Unexpected scotch bonnet chillis (Masterchef, 2017) Torode got the shock of his life during an episode in 2017 when he ate a dish by a contestant without knowing it contained scotch bonnet chillis. As he eyes began to water, he asked amateur chef Lynell: 'You've got scotch bonnet chillis in there?' She replied: 'Yes, I like pepper.' Torode, whose voice was starting to crack, then said: 'You like pepper alright.' Lynell apologised with a laugh, telling him: 'Sorry, I should have warned you.' In another clip from the same series, contestant Dr Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – who later won – was shown to be taking her time during a challenge. Torode told the doctor: 'You're very calm under pressure, aren't you?' She replied: 'I have to be.' Wallace then joked: 'Lots of patience' - to which Torode rolled his eyes. Sexual joke to Cat Deeley (This Morning, 2024) Torode came under fire for making a sexual joke about a sausage to Cat Deeley live on This Morning last October. The comment was ill-timed because it came after Wallace denied claims that he made inappropriate sexual comments to a female staffer. Torode was plating up a dish of toad in the hole, telling host Deeley:: 'I never thought I'd say to Cat Deeley, 'Here's a little sausage for you darling'.'' Deeley tapped him on the back and replied: 'Oh I like it, thank you,' before she turned to make a face at the camera. But viewers took to social media to point out the unfortunate timing of Torode's comment in the light of the scandal affecting his co-presenter. 'Experimental' innuendo (Masterchef, 2012) Torode appeared to get an unexpected insight into a contestant's sexual life during an episode of Masterchef back in 2012. The contestant told him: 'I'm actually cooking this because it tastes nice, it's really nice.' Torode replied: 'Would you consider yourself a conservative cook or an experimental cook?' She then said: 'I'm experimental at home with my husband' – before beginning to laugh. Torode told her: 'I'm not asking what you do at home' – but she interjected: 'No, no, no, cooking wise!', and they both laughed. Disagreeing with Wallace (Celebrity MasterChef, 2009) Tensions boiled over between Torode and Wallace on an episode of Celebrity MasterChef in 2009 when they had to choose a quarter-finalist from Claire Richards, Sean Wilson and Kaye Adams. Torode said: 'Claire is just getting better and better and better.' But Wallace replied: 'Oh come on John look, her cheesecake was lovely but that scallop dish [by Wilson] was absolutely superb, top drawer cooking. I just really, really want to see more of his dishes.' Torode then told him: 'OK, we don't agree. There has to be a decision.' And Wallace said: 'It's one of those nights isn't it, it's one of those nights.' They eventually chose Richards to go through. 'Still love each other' (This Morning, 2018) During an appearance on This Morning, Wallace gave an awkward smirk when it was suggested that the duo 'still love each other' after 14 years of working together. Wallace and Torode were talking during the ITV programme in March 2018 about how they react to tasting food they do not like while filming Masterchef. Wallace said: 'I don't ever want to humiliate somebody by spitting their food out. What I will say is 'look, I find you sticking that chocolate bar up the back end of a duck quite challenging'. Torode then interjected: 'For the duck.' Wallace continued: 'And it's not something I may want to taste again.' Host Ruth Langsford, alongside Eamonn Holmes, then said: 'But the thing is, it seems to me after 14 years that you still love it, and you still love each other.' Wallace then pulled a smirk, gestured towards Torode and then clapped his hands – as Torode said: 'Yeah, love it, absolutely love it.' Over the years there have been rumours that the two men did not get along off-screen, although Wallace has previously said they are friendly.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I have no idea if John Torode used racist language – but here's why he's being treated worse than a serial killer
MASTERCHEF presenter John Torode has been sacked over an upheld allegation that he used 'an extremely offensive racist term' at a works party seven years ago. Yet 59-year-old Torode insists he has 'no recollection' of the incident, does not believe it happened and it seems that no official complaint was made. 7 7 Curiouser and curiouser. Curiouser still is that it's been reported he only learned of the 'upheld' accusation a couple of weeks ago, suggesting that he wasn't given the chance to robustly defend himself before the damning verdict was delivered. Indeed, in an updated statement issued late last night, he revealed that no one had contacted him to say he was sacked and added: 'The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong.' Up to now, all attention has been on his co-presenter Gregg Wallace, the main focus of the report instigated by MasterChef production company Banijay and also sacked after 45 of the 83 complaints about his behaviour were upheld. So Torode's involvement has come as a shock. He wasn't named in the report's findings, but outed himself as one of two other anonymous individuals against whom an allegation had been upheld. He said: 'The allegation is that I did so sometime in 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.' But now he's been sacked and it's unclear whether we will ever know the full truth behind the claim. But what I do know is that the secrecy that surrounds a lot of these corporate investigations — be it conducted internally by the HR department or, in this case, an external legal firm — makes it hard for an accused individual to fight their innocence. A friend of mine was recently drummed out of a job he loved for 'bullying' a colleague. John Torode breaks silence on MasterChef co-star Gregg Wallace accusations He was the subject of an internal 'investigation', throughout which he wasn't allowed to know the name of his accuser nor the detail of their claims, for fear it might identify them. What the hell? Even serial killers get to see the evidence against them and put up a defence in court. But in the world of corporate HR, it seems that a Caesar-like thumbs up or down is delivered on someone's reputation and career without the chance to mount a robust challenge. How, pray tell, can you refute potentially career-damaging allegations when you don't know the accuser, the time, the place and the alleged transgression? It's like Stasi East Germany. In the end, my friend knew the game was up. It was clear they wanted rid of him, so the cherry on the cake of confection was that he accepted a deal to go quietly without a stain on his previously good character. Astonishingly, a source claims Torode was asked by Banijay to step down from his role for reasons of 'mental health', but he refused. Presumably because he felt he had done nothing wrong. But now Banijay has sacked him anyway, a move backed by the BBC which says 'it takes this upheld finding very seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind . . .' Look, I don't know Torode and have no idea if he used racist language or not. But surely he should have been given a chance to see any evidence (if it exists) and refute it? You might think, who cares? He's a highly paid TV personality with a public platform upon which to defend himself. But that's not the point. If it can happen to Torode then it can, and does, happen to those who aren't in the public eye too. It may well be long overdue and deserved, as seems the case with the multiple complaints against Wallace. But equally, it could be a single, unsubstantiated complaint by someone who simply doesn't like you, or an internal, fabricated witch-hunt by a firm that just wants rid of you. IT'S ALL GOING TO POT 7 IT'S par for the course these day for feckless oiks to steal cars, luxury items from shops and parcels from our doorsteps. But now there's a new petty crime to contend with. Research shows that we are facing a plant theft epidemic, with two thirds of us having trees, shrubs and flowers stolen from our gardens. At the weekend, I bought a small olive tree for outside my front door – along with a bike lock to stop it being nicked. Is nothing sacred any more? LEGO'S MY TYPE LEGO has been voted one of the best toys of all time. Hear, hear. You're never too old to enjoy it. And to prove it, here's the Lego typewriter (and yes, it works) I have spent the past four evenings building. Who needs therapy? HARRY IS A CUT ABOVE 7 THIS is the first photo of the new Harry Potter – played by Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin in the forthcoming HBO TV series. Meanwhile, the number of unofficial Harry Potter shops across the country shows no sign of abating. There are 13 in London alone, Cambridge has three, and the original one is in York, where many believe the city's famous street The Shambles was the inspiration for Diagon Alley. But, dismissing this claim, Harry's creator JK Rowling tweeted that his 'true birthplace' – i.e. where she first put pen to paper – is actually a flat above what was once a sports shop in Clapham Junction and is now home to a men's hairdressing salon. I walked past it yesterday and there's still no sign of a blue plaque or even a 'Harry Potter haircut' special. It can only be a matter of time. SCHOOL RULES ST JULIAN'S in Portugal – Lisbon 's oldest British school – successfully banned mobile phones a decade ago. Others followed suit for pupils up to the age of 12 and have reported a 59 per cent fall in bullying and 57 per cent drop in disruptive incidents. Now the Portuguese government is to ban smartphones in all junior schools. Excelente. The statistics speak for themselves. The only mystery is why the UK hasn't yet followed suit. TAXI, PLEASE, FOR 'CELEB' GABRIELLA SOMEONE called Gabriella Bardsley has been caught drink-driving. Who? I hear you cry. And well you might. For 23-year-old Gabriella, is the step-daughter of former footballer Phil Bardsley, now assistant manager of Macclesfield. And part of her mitigation in court was to claim that her 'quasi-celebrity' status forced her to flee a party in her car after someone recognised her from reality show The Bardsley Bunch (nope, me neither) and made hurtful jibes. Hmmm. I have questions. If she'd driven there, why was she drinking in the first place?
Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
John Torode sacked as MasterChef presenter after ‘racist remark' claim
John Torode's two-decade career on MasterChef has come to an end after an allegation that he made a racist remark was upheld. The 59-year-old chef will not have his contract on the programme renewed after the publication of an independent report which substantiated one incident of racist language. Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, said: '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.' His exit follows that of his co-presenter Gregg Wallace, who had 45 complaints against him upheld, including one incident of unwanted physical contact. Following the publication of the report on Monday, Torode admitted that he was the individual at the centre of the claim. '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,' Torode said. 'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.' Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, addressed the controversy that has gripped the cooking show as the BBC unveiled its annual report on Tuesday. • BBC can be 'unbearable' place to work, chairman warns 'There has to be follow-up,' he said. 'The BBC is quite simple on this — if someone is found to not live up to its values, we expect [Banijay] to take action and report back to us on what they have done. 'These aren't BBC employees, but we absolutely expect action to be taken.'
