Penny Lancaster has alleged that she witnessed and was a sufferer of bullying and harassment by the MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace.
The mannequin and Unfastened Girls actor stated she didn’t know that her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, was going to make accusations about Wallace’s behaviour till she noticed a publish on Instagram.
Final month, Stewart alleged that the presenter “humiliated” his spouse on Superstar MasterChef in 2021. It got here after a sequence of allegations led to Wallace stepping away from the BBC present whereas its manufacturing firm, Banijay UK, investigates claims of misconduct.
Attorneys for Wallace, 60, have strongly denied that “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
On Thursday, Lancaster advised ITV’s Unfastened Girls: “I didn’t realise my husband had despatched that publish out till it was out. And naturally, you’ll be able to think about the inflow of inquiries there have been.
“I most undoubtedly was witness and sufferer to among the bullying and harassment behaviour of Gregg Wallace, and sadly quite a lot of these concerned within the manufacturing crew had been additionally witness to that, and I actually really feel that he used his place of energy to, I consider, intimidate and trigger misery to lots of people on set.
“And it’s actually unlucky that somebody like him is allowed to get away with that, and whereas others kind of stand by and let it occur on the similar time.”
She added that she was shocked by her husband’s publish, which additionally stated: “Good riddance Wallace … You humiliated my spouse when she was on the present, however you had that bit reduce out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma obtained ya”.
Lancaster, 53, stated: “I felt just a little bit vindicated that one thing was put on the market, going again to kind of that complete MeToo [movement], it’s stunning to assume what number of ladies do endure within the palms of … [men] in a strong place and are too afraid to speak out.
“They don’t really feel on the time that they’re going to be supported or listened to. So generally it will possibly take a number of years later for somebody to say one thing. It offers the opposite victims and people who have suffered the arrogance to return ahead.”
BBC bosses beforehand stated the company wouldn’t “tolerate behaviour that falls under the requirements we anticipate” and would proceed to champion “a tradition that’s sort, inclusive and respectful”.
A memo despatched to employees by the BBC director basic, Tim Davie, and Charlotte Moore, the chief content material officer, stated the company can be supporting Banijay UK in its investigation.
Final week, Wallace apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour got here from “a handful of middle-class ladies of a sure age”, including he would “take a while out”.
Lisa Nandy, the tradition secretary, is considered contemplating imposing new requirements on the artistic trade, with stronger authorized powers for a brand new impartial physique.
Nandy stated she was ready to problem the sector if the Inventive Industries Impartial Requirements Authority (CIISA) didn’t obtain applicable help after her assembly with them on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for her division stated: “The tradition secretary had a constructive dialog with attendees and hopes this would be the begin of an ongoing dialogue on how the federal government can help CIISA because it appears to implement its new behaviour requirements throughout the trade.”