If you live in the UK, you will have been bombarded with tales about the 'Masterchef' presenter, Gregg Wallace's inappropriate behaviour.
I have no idea how bad it has been, but I expect it's all based on cheeky East End banter, as used to be the standard fare of builders and market traders everywhere. As far as I've seen he's not being accused of rape or any form of sexual violence. One has to remember that Wallace was an East End grocer; not unknown for their 'cheeky quips'.
He didn't make himself popular by saying that his accusers were all middle-class women of a certain age. He should have kept his silly mouth closed.
Well, I shall now reveal that I too have been the recipient of 'inappropriate behaviour'.
Back in about 1971, I was teaching at a prestigious Girl's Boarding School in Shropshire, we even had the daughter of a Prime Minister there. As a young Art Master, one of only two male teachers (the other was much older), I became the object of much giggling and teasing; some of which was very suggestive in a none too sophisticated double entendre fashion. I didn't mind too much, but had I been female, and the pupils male, it might have been very different.
A few years later, again in Shropshire, I became the Chairman of my village Youth Club. Again I became the object of some curiosity; a sports car driving, young man, living in the big house, I attracted some bizarre attention from some of the female club members. Youngish girls would phone me in the evenings and make strange sexual suggestions. They were only having a bit of fun, so again I didn't really mind, and tried to ignore it.
I only mention these two incidents because they are my only experience.
You will probably think that it's very different for a man to receive such attention, and I would agree with you to an extent, but it did give me an insight into unwanted behaviour.
I don't know the extent of Gregg Wallace's behaviour, but I quite expect it was not dis-similar to the girls at the school where I taught. Probably harmless; but unwarranted. However if it proves to be much more serious then he must pay the price, just like everyone else.
I'd never thought anything about Wallace previously, but he sounds like a total plonker.
If you look into what Wallace is accused of you will find that a lot of it is more than just " banter".
ReplyDeleteApparently when he had just met Kirsty Allsopp he was telling her about his sex life in graphic detail. He once appeared naked apart from a sock over his " bits" and proceeded to dance in front of people etc etc. From what I have read it is a lot more than a bit of fun from a cheeky chappie! I am however fed up with him being all over the media for what seems like weeks!
I really haven't seen any details of what he's been up to, the BBC are keeping very quiet. As I said, if he has been up to serious abuse then the deserves all that's coming to him.
DeleteI prefer Gromit over Wallace. Wallace had previously been warned about his smuttiness but he carried on anyway. Part of the problem is that Wallace was employed by a production company and not directly by the BBC. His TV career is surely over now. He will be no great loss.
ReplyDeleteThat silly comment of his finished him off!
DeleteAnother male with a huge ego and sense of "entitlement" when it comes to women. I hope he's gone for good then I'll be able to watch some of the the prorgrammes he's no longer appearing in. I have never liked him and as YP says, he'll be no great loss.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know what he contributed to the programme. He's not a trained chef, he's an ex-green grocer, and he has too big an ego. Good riddance.
DeleteI've had similar things in various jobs that I've had but I've always had a bit of a laugh with whoever it was and left it at that, nothing awful happened to me, I certainly didn't feel like reporting them and having them banged up for 10 years, it was all a bit of fun. I grew up in the days of whistling builders, eventually you got used to it and just waved and smiled.
ReplyDeleteI think wolf-whistling is now a criminal offence. Years ago women used to feel almost flattered!
DeleteI doubt that competitive women with jobs in the media, privately educated, gap cv-enhancing gap year, Oxbridge, and so on, can understand working-class life before the 1990s, but they apply their standards to it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he could understand their lives either.
DeleteWhat is annoying me is that people are sticking up for him and saying it's just banter ! Although it's not Jimmy Saville level, it has been far more than banter. Shannon Kyle, who was his ghost writer, is claiming he sexually harassed her .... a lot. Opening the door to her in only a towel, then dropping it, touching her, asking her in a restaurant to put her Eton mess desert on his 'bits ' and lick it off { sorry to be graphic !!! } and lots more..... and it's not just her and he was warned years ago. I have never been a fan of him. I was never sure why he should be on there, judging chefs ....... he was a green grocer ! I agree with everything Copper's girl said ! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI'm only just learning some of the details of his behaviour, and it sounds much worse that we'd been led to believe. If it's all true, he should end up in clink. And a good thing too!
DeleteI have just noticed that your comment was not here anymore....it was quite " relevant" I thought. What GW has been up to is far nastier than anything Cro "suffered" as a young man with girls and their "banter".
DeletePeople can be fired for sexual misconduct in the workplace. When fired, word gets around and individuals have trouble finding new employment (in the US).
ReplyDeleteThat said, at the upper corporate levels, things are kept mostly under cover. Lots goes on.
I think Mr Wallace will find it very difficult ever finding media employment ever again. He may. of course, end up in prison!
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