ANGRY Ulrika Jonsson hit back at Gregg Wallace yesterday after the former MasterChef host mounted a disastrous defense of his behaviour.
Writer Suna Ulrika called Wallace, 60, “ignorant and arrogant” after he posted a video in which he blamed “middle-class women of a certain age” for complaining about him.
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Ulrika Jonsson led the furious backlash against Gregg Wallace
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Former MasterChef host Wallace has made a disastrous defense of his behaviorCredit: instagram/greggawallace
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Video of Wallace chattering on social mediaCredit: instagram/greggawallace
Other celebrities who were stunned by Wallace’s incredible fling were JK Rowling and Kirstie Allsopp, who said he once left her shaken by a nasty sex-act anecdote.
Wallace, who left the BBC1 cooking show last week after complaints of inappropriate behavior over a number of years, lashed out on Instagram yesterday morning.
He said: “I’ve been doing MasterChef for 20 years now. Amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef. In that time I have worked with over 4,000 competitors of all ages, all different backgrounds and walks of life.
“Now I read in the newspaper that at that time there were 13 complaints. I can see them coming from a handful of middle class women of a certain age from Celebrity MasterChef alone. This is not right. In 20 years of TV, can you imagine how many women on MasterChef have had sexual remarks or sexual allusions?”
His comments sparked a furious reaction from Ulrike, 57, who previously accused Wallace of “joking” about being raped on the set of Celebrity MasterChef 2017.
She said yesterday: “I am nothing short of seething. Somewhere in his misogynistic, thoughtless, ancient mind he felt fit to tell the world this.
“Oh, Gregg. Your ignorance and arrogance knows no bounds. First, you have no idea what ‘class’ of women are who complained about you.
“What we can confirm is that they are far more classy than you will ever be.
“Secondly, when you talk about women of a ‘certain age’, it’s usually a reference to my generation — Generation X, the older ones, the ones who are supposed to have quietly passed into old age.
“And yet, the irony of this is that we’re probably the most stubborn group because we’ve been raised on a diet of sexist, misogynistic, crude and sleazy comments and physical contact that’s always been superfluous to the demands of the likes of Wallace, our entire working lives.”
Gregg Wallace slams ‘middle class women’ for complaining about him
Ulrika claimed he reduced the contestant to tears by saying her dish “looked like a rapist during foreplay”.
And yesterday she criticized the BBC for allowing him to stay on television for so long.
She said: “As much as the BBC thinks this ‘cheeky guy’ is popular with the public because of his simplicity, it’s just not good enough to deflect any complaints with the excuse that ‘Gregg is like that’.”
It comes after MasterChef producers Banijay UK hired legal firm Lewis Silkin to investigate the allegations.
Wallace was also charged with further acts of misconduct yesterday.
Location Location Location star Kirstie posted: “Within 1 hour of meeting Gregg Wallace he told me about the sex act he and his then partner enjoyed ‘every morning’ she just left the room we were filming the pilot. Did he get mad at how embarrassed I was? It was completely unprofessional, I’m a #MiddleClassWomanOfaCertainAge.”
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Ulrika called Wallace ‘ignorant and arrogant’ after he blamed ‘middle class women of a certain age’ for complaining about himCredit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4
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The shamed star was accused by many women of inappropriate behaviorCredit: instagram/greggawallace
She added later on Radio 4 that his video ranting about the complainant’s class was “unacceptable”.
Kirstie said: “I absolutely understand the banter. I am the mother of sons – two stepsons, two sons. But there’s a huge difference between a tough talk and the kind of comments Gregg Wallace made to me.”
Times Radio presenter Aasmah Mir said she complained at the time about an inappropriate comment Wallace made on Celebrity MasterChef 2017.
She posted: “I put my first dish in front of the judges and the cameras paused to reset. In front of everyone, Gregg Wallace told me to tell my colleague from the BBC ‘that she was a sexy bitch’. “Nobody said anything. And yes, I complained.”
Former Labor Minister Baroness Harman wrote online: “It’s not like the standards have changed. Women have always felt terrified of predatory, lecherous men.
“It’s just that now women feel up to the challenge. Older middle-class women are more up to the challenge than young single women. That’s our duty.”
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JK Rowling posted: ‘If only his co-stars had been young working-class women, ideally with some job security, none of this would have happened’ Credit: Getty
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Kirstie Allsopp said Wallace once left her shaken by a nasty sex-act anecdoteCredit: Getty
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Aasmah Mir said she then complained about Wallace’s inappropriate comment on Celebrity MasterChef 2017. Credit: Getty
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Celebrity MasterChef 2012 winner Emma Kennedy said she reported Wallace’s behavior to a member of the production teamCredit: Emilie Fjola Sandy
Wallace was also widely mocked for his video attack and advised to “listen” instead.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling declared: “If only his co-stars had been young working-class women, ideally with some job security, none of this would have happened.”
Host Julia Hartley-Brewer added: “Think of Gregg Wallace’s PR agent waking up this morning,’ alongside a meme of Chandler from Friends yelling, ‘What did you just do?’”
Independent MP Rosie Duffield said his rant “suggests he does not understand the potential offense caused to colleagues who may have felt powerless to speak out”.
Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall told the BBC yesterday: “I understand the instinct when you feel you’re cornered… but I don’t think it’s smart to say that… I think Wallace should probably be listening at the moment.”
At least 13 people have made formal complaints about Wallace’s behavior while working with him over 17 years on five shows, from 2005 to 2022.
If only his colleagues had been young working-class women, ideally with some job security, none of this would have happened
JK Rowling
Wallace is accused of removing his top in front of the worker, saying he wanted to “put her on a fashion show” and telling others about his sex life.
Allegedly, he also told a female colleague that he does not wear any boxers under his jeans.
Wallace denied any conduct of a sexually harassing nature.
He will headline two pre-recorded MasterChef specials for the BBC over the festive period, despite the investigation.
Wallace poses in a Christmas shirt alongside co-host John Torode for the Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and MasterChef Meets Strictly Festive Extravaganza.
The BBC promises “fireworks and a great Christmas joke”.
The BBC warned 5 times in 7 years, but he remained a presenter
Author: JULIA ATHERLEY
The BBC was warned about Gregg Wallace’s sexist behavior at least five times over seven years, but he continued to host MasterChef, it has emerged.
The broadcaster conducted an HR investigation in 2018 and spoke to the star several times about inappropriate comments.
Celebrity MasterChef 2012 winner Emma Kennedy said she reported Wallace’s behavior to a member of the production team but did not know if it was followed up on.
Georgia Harding, producer of MasterChef from 2014 to 2015, said she raised concerns about his behavior but no action was taken.
In 2017, radio presenter Aasmah Mir got into the celebrity version and emailed Kate Phillips, now head of unscripted television for the BBC, about Wallace’s inappropriate comments.
In 2018, Wallace was reportedly issued a formal warning by the BBC following an HR investigation.
In 2022, director and producer Dawn Elrick said she sent a letter to the corporation with a number of anonymized accounts from people who claimed Wallace had acted inappropriately.
Yesterday, The Sun on Sunday told how Nestlé’s chief executive had written to the BBC with concerns about Wallace’s behavior during the filming of an episode of Inside The Factory in 2023.
The BBC has been criticized for failing to act on complaints against convicted pedophile Huw Edwards.
He faced a severe bullying dispute, sex allegations about comedian Russell Brand, plus inappropriate messages from The One Show’s Jermaine Jenas.
The BBC said: “We take all issues raised seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them.
“We have always been clear that any behavior that falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.”
A BBC source added: “While we will not comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, it would be wrong to report that the BBC did nothing if or when issues were raised with us.”
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Wallace poses in a Christmas jumper alongside co-host John Torode Credit: BBC
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