Gregg Wallace responds with “A handful of comments from middle class women of a certain age”

[Conniebygaslight]

Just heard his comments on the news….unbelievable.

Discussion about him now in GMB with Aggie McKenzie.

Yes, we know. In the name of male accountability, you argue for this man not to be held accountable. And you don't really give a damn in one sentence and then immediately launch into why you passionately do...and funnily enough, it's still you arguing for him not to be held accountable.

You may not see how badly you've pretzelled yourself but we do. We're middle aged women, remember? It might be a new concept for you but we've lived with decades of men talking contradictory, self-serving, anti-woman rot at us and expecting us not to notice.

Perhaps people from your place could go do some training for the BBC. As a company they seem particularly bad at dealing with people like Greg-with-2-gs

It’s not clear Gregg has ever worked directly for the BBC. He has worked for a variety of production companies who have sold programmes to the BBC and to channel 5, possibly others.

Helen Lederer completely incoherent on this on R4 at the moment.

@hopefor25 ”It could happen to anyone” - erm, nope.

Are you actually wife number 4??

Wasn't she though! I bet they are really glad they got her on 🤔

I think he’s trying to tell people who the person is behind the claims is without naming them

like ulrika did with John Leslie

He, as in Gregg?

A number of well known people (Katy Brand, Kirsty Wark, Kirstie Allsopp) have already stated their own link.

And it’s not “the person” - there are at least 13 complaints in the bbc letter and will probably be more to come.

That doesn't make sense, rwalker. Several of the people have been named, or named themselves. And the BBC has contradicted him about both ages and number of programmes.

Helen Lederer was a celebrity MasterChef contestant twice in the 2000s and so, unsurprisingly, was asked what sort of behaviour she experienced or witnessed. The presenter tried to get a sensible response but her replies were so rambling and incoherent it was impossible to know. There was more painful pointless rambling when she was asked her view on the current situation.

At least the woman who followed her, an MP I think, had some formed thoughts. She said the BBC should hold off on the broadcast of the MasterChef episode due to go out tonight as viewers won't understand it was recorded before this debacle and will interpret it as an endorsement of him.

will probably be more to come.

I would think that's a given.
And as for why some of the women didn't tell him where to go, it's being reported that many were the assistants and runners, who are possibly young women early in their carers. It's been pretty well documented in the last few years that the "talent" (and believe me I use that word loosely in relation to Gregg) and ratings hold the power.

So a complaint is made... better to fade out the complainer, get a new assistant and protect the face of the program. No need to make any great waves. And the same could apply with Kirsty, assuming she wants to keep her job or get another one then the men in charge don't want a difficult woman who can't take a joke so it's all closed ranks.

Until that culture changes in telly land in general, not just the bbc then these types of revaluations will keep occuring.

A second accuser, James, also not his real name, said Wallace's video 'seems to be saying he's the victim of classism'.

'His humour isn't typically working-class or prone to misinterpretation: from my perspective, its main purpose is to test boundaries, make other people (especially women) uncomfortable, and display his power within the room,' he said

'And it's not just women who are offended - plenty of men are too, it's just that far too few of them have the host called out on his bad behaviour.'

And another former colleague of Wallace, who is not one of the 13 who initially spoke to the BBC, said the video was 'so dismissive of the people that have come forward', especially younger women

Misogyny is always about power. And the worst offenders are always deeply insecure men desperate to punch down on others they class as 'lesser'

Referring to 'middle class women of a certain age', Wallace reveals who he feels he has to hit hardest. He can punch down on young women - he has status over them. He can punch down on working class men and women - he has status over them. But high achieving women? (Not not middle class) He perceives them as smarter and more together than him. And he HATES their confidence in calling out bullshit.

Exactly what RTB said. And he's too cowardly to name these women because he knows he'd lose in any kind of one-on-one engagement.

He can't say the names Kirsty Wark, Katy Brand or Kirstie Allsop because they would make absolute mincemeat of him.

Edited for spelling of names.

For me, terms like ‘creepy’ and ‘behaved badly’ downplay it. It appears to be sexual harassment at work he’s accused of by numerous people over decades. There’s some broadcast evidence too, e.g. the ‘munching tart’ comment to Katy Brand. It’s been reported he was given serious warnings about his behaviour as far back as 2017/18.

His lawyers have denied he sexually harassed people. But those are the allegations, which (if upheld) mean he breached equality law. It’s not his personality type or health conditions, it’s unlawful conduct, which applies to everyone. There are also allegations of racist behaviour.

On the due process point, the BBC has confirmed they have to wait for his employer, the production company, Banijay, to conclude their investigation. The BBC doesn’t make the show.

If he wants to wait for due process and avoid the heat, he’d be well advised to stop releasing videos, which seek to belittle the women who’ve spoken out and complained.

His lawyers have denied he sexually harassed people.

I mean the bbc admits that he received a warning for just that and attended a meeting (for 90 minutes I think the news said last night). So are his lawyers calling the beeb liars or just trying to gaslight everyone.

Re holding off on the episode. It would take 5 minutes to throw together a little thing to stick on before the programme that states this was filmed months ago etc etc.

They’re obvs trying to defend him as that’s what he’s paying them for. But looks like they have their work cut out.

Another piece on R4.

David Yelland - a total lack of self awareness and his attack on middle class women of a certain age is a disastrous move made in a panic without advice.

Sarah Vine - speaking as a woman of a certain age. Not trying to defend him but 20 years ago he was part of the popular lad culture and fitted right in. He failed to grow up and see times have changed.

Actually I was buying some stuff on PI earlier, clicked on "what's new" and there it was - I thought wow, that was quick!

I think he's saying it's banter & people do this. & shouldn't have done that, although to be fair he's probably in a crisis whatever the story. He should not do that again, the phrase dig deeper hole comes to mind

Sarah Vine - somehow, always wrong…

I thought it was quite funny, really, to hear him damning himself with his own misogynistic words.

It's always banter. until it isnt. on the good side he gets to spend time with his fun, sexy gf/wife and give his mil a few days/months/years off