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MasterChef star John Torode has broken his silence after claims surfaced that he was asked to resign from the hit BBC series over an alleged racist comment dating back more than five years.
The Australian-born chef and long-time co-host of the hugely popular cooking competition issued a lengthy statement denying the accusation and expressing his dismay at being implicated in what he describes as an unfounded and upsetting allegation.
Torode, 58, found himself drawn into the fallout from the damning investigation into his co-host Gregg Wallace, after it was reported that two other individuals connected to the show were also cited in the findings. While he was not named directly in the published report, Torode confirmed he was one of the people referred to in the executive summary.
In his statement to The Sun, he said:
“Following publication of the Executive Summary of the Investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.
“For the sake of transparency I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion.
“The allegation is that I did so sometime between 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.”
Torode added that he has “absolutely no recollection” of making such a comment and does not believe it happened.
“However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment,” he continued. “I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”
The BBC and MasterChef production company Banijay reportedly asked Torode to step down from his role last week, citing mental health concerns, something he has also denied. He refused to resign and has chosen to speak publicly instead, insisting that his conscience is clear.
The situation has left fans of the show reeling, as Torode has been a staple of MasterChef since 2005 alongside Wallace. His straight-talking but kind-hearted judging style has made him a favourite with viewers, and many have taken to social media to express their support in the wake of the allegation.
Neither the BBC nor Banijay has commented publicly on Torode’s remarks at the time of writing. It remains unclear what the future holds for the chef on the iconic cooking series, which has spawned countless spin-offs and remains one of the corporation’s flagship programmes.
This latest twist comes just weeks after the Wallace investigation rocked the production, raising uncomfortable questions about workplace culture on one of the BBC’s most successful franchises.
For now, Torode appears determined to fight his corner and maintain his position on the show, while reiterating his belief that all racial language is unacceptable and that causing offence has never been his intention.
