"Tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully": Rod Stewart's extraordinary spray
British TV personality Gregg Wallace has stepped down from his role as host of MasterChef UK amid an investigation into allegations of misconduct.
The controversy first came to light following a report by The Sun, which detailed accusations that Wallace, 60, made "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer during his time on Impossible Celebrities. He has also faced claims of being rude and insulting to women on another program in 2023.
However, adding to the public spectacle, it was veteran rocker Sir Rod Stewart's response to the drama that really raised eyebrows.
Stewart immediately took to Instagram to express his disdain for Wallace. In a strongly-worded post, Stewart accused the TV star of humiliating his wife, Penny Lancaster, during her appearance on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. Stewart wrote:
“Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya.”
Wallace has denied the allegations and stated that a previous investigation by the BBC six years ago cleared him of any wrongdoing. He insisted his comments were not sexual in nature, saying:
"I don’t want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that, and I never have."
Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, confirmed the investigation into "historical allegations" and stated they are cooperating fully with the BBC. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation is commited to addressing any behaviour falling below its expected standards: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them... We will always support external production companies when addressing complaints or concerns.”
This isn’t the first time Wallace has been at the centre of controversy. Last year, he faced backlash for allegedly being rude and insulting to women on the BBC’s Inside the Factory. At the time, Wallace claimed his departure from the show was to focus on his autistic son, Sid.
Images: Today Show / MasterChef UK