Greg Wallace’s autism means that he can’t wear underwear. Really?

[Hotdays2]

Headline in today’s Times. As a mother of a diagnosed autistic DS I find this playing of the disability card pretty offensive. He also blames the BBC for not supporting him in managing his disability. He is capable of putting a sock on his privates when exposing himself to lowly and therefore vulnerable female staff members, so it seems that he got over his sensory sensitivities to some extent. His consistent blaming of others and absolute lack of self-awareness or remorse for his actions is just reprehensible I think.

He’s a pervy twat who thinks his neurodivergence gives him a green light to sexually harass people. Revolting specimen.

Has he actually been diagnosed? He presents quite differently to any of the people I know with autism. That aside, he’s not doing anything to promote understanding of autism.
Personally I think he’s basically an arrogant, nasty creep.

He's a complete arsehole who gets worse by the day.

Disgusting man. I'm not sure I even believe him saying that he is autistic. It's probably just an attempt to get himself out of the hole he is now in, which he keeps digging and making deeper. Arsewipe!

Agreed, using it as an excuse for predatory behaviour is beyond. Perhaps like you, I’ve found that when supported with social stories and the like, autistic children often have a strong moral code and sense of right and wrong which doesn’t seem to gel with GW’s outright refusal of what the over 50 new accusers are saying.

Why does he keep coming out with this total bullshit and expecting people to believe it? It's very narcissistic to present such 1/10 lies and believe the general public is stupid enough to swallow them.

Some people don't like underwear it's nothing to do with neurodivergence it doesn't mean you can flash people! I went for a good few years preferring no pants and long skirts it was comfortable but when I started wearing trousers more often on went the pants again there are generations of people out there who have gone commando it's fine to do so but no-one should about it unless you tell people (and why would you tell people)

He said he is diagnosed now and blames the BBC for not protecting him due to his previously suspected neurodivergence. Vile little man.

That said, lots of autistic people have sensory issues regarding clothes so I think it’s unfair to say that statement is incorrect, just that he is a cunt for suggesting flashing his knob was appropriate.

He really isn't helping himself here

As a diagnosed autistic woman, I find things like this so offensive.

Greg Wallace is a hateful, disgusting, pig, and a fucking pervert. Whether he's autistic or not has no bearing on him being an utterly vile person. Him using autism as an 'excuse' for his repugnant behaviour just shows the type of person he is.

Fuck off GW, grow up and be accountable for your actions.

Slimy, odious little man. Using autism as an excuse and a shield is disgusting.

Apparently underwear makes him feel uncomfortable.

And the women whom he treated so badly? Is it OK for them to feel uncomfortable?

Fair enough he doesn't like underwear but that doesn't explain why he was exposing his genitalia to women.

Fine to go without pants. Not fine to wave your knob about in public!

Fine to go without pants. Not fine to wave your knob about in public!

What is a disability card please? I have read on this very site about some people saying that their children are unable to tolerate certain materials, due to sensory issues etc. So it is not an impossibility, what GW is saying!

In this case though he's not coming from an autism angle and explaining any sensory issues in that context. He's coming at it only from the angle of trying to excuse his behaviour towards women. It's entirely possible he has sensory issues but whether he does or doesn't, the issue is him using it as a shield for being a pervy creep.

This.

No issues with whether Gregg wears underwear or not, that's his personal choice. Major issue with the only people he has been showing his knob to are women.

And then there's the "middle aged women of a certain age" bollocks he came up with as a defence. Rather than "sorry'".

With or without autism he's an odious fucker.

I know plenty of people who can't tolerate underwear

And would be moderately supportive if it was a case of him being fired because somehow they became aware of this.

It is not

It is a case of him exposing himself deliberately (again I'd think differently if it was accidental).

Among a mass of other sexualised and targeted behaviour

I've been the recipient of overly sexualised behaviour by people with autism whilst in a caring role, that was unfortunate but it was clear they werent doing it to humilate me or degrade me. It is in no way similar to what Greg has done

A metaphorical disability ‘card’ not a literal one. The issue is that even if he has sensory sensitivities it doesn’t mean that he has to then expose himself to women. His profile is that he has grabbed women from behind, made lewd and sexual comments and that the vast majority of these incidents have involved women who are in lower status jobs on set with him, so it all forms a picture.

Well I have autism and I can’t stand underwired bras but I wouldn’t use it as an excuse to flash my tits at everyone.

My husband and stepson (and me and my daughter!) are all autistic. My husband is disgusted with GW saying that him being a gross POS is in any way related to him being autistic. We all know how to keep our thoughts and hands to ourselves. And walking around with a sock on your knob?! Who doesn't realise that this isn't appropriate at work?

Same here! Bras can be very problematic, but we do what we can to navigate issues like this.

The depths some people stoop to justify their disgusting behaviour is beyond belief. I despise GW even more now he's used autism as his excuse for being a sexual predator and an all round hateful bastard.

How could the BBC or the company who now produce Masterchef, have made adjustments, if neither they or GW knew of a diagnosis?

He excuses his actions as banter. Did he use the same banter on male colleagues and contestants. He is an unpleasant ordinary man, who got lucky with an opportunity, messed it up and blames everyone and everything for it.

No Gregg, it’s all on you. Autism is a neuro divergence. It’s not carte blanche to sexually harass women.

I agree.

Anyone with any good understanding of sensory issues would know that what he’s said could very well be true.

He’s still a predator though.

So what?
No one cares if someone doesn't wear underwear.
People care if you keep telling them you don't wear underwear and keep getting your dick out and waving it around.

I have several friends with autism, none of them expose themselves or sexually harrass other people. And I have no idea if they wear underwear because none of them would dream of discussing such things with other people.