Gino D’Acampo has been accused of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behaviour, according to an ITV News investigation. Numerous individuals have shared experiences that they’ve described as “unacceptable,” “distressing” and “horrendous” while working with the TV chef over a period of more than 12 years.
The star, known for his appearances on ITV’s Family Fortunes and Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible, is facing accusations that date back over a decade. It’s reported that those involved were scared of potential repercussions if they ever spoke out about their alleged encounters with the 48 year old.
Gino has “firmly denied” the claims made by “dozens” of people, stating that they were “deeply upsetting”, reports the Mirror.
(Image: ITV)
A woman, who has been given the pseudonym Hannah to protect her identity, told investigators that she was subjected to crude comments from Gino in 2011. She alleges that Mr D’Acampo said he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter.” Hannah, whose identity has been protected, claims that crew members laughed after he made the comment. However, she says she saw the “shock” and “horror”, alleging his supposed behaviour made her feel “very, very, very small”.
Speaking to ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia, Hannah added: “I definitely saw it as some kind of power play. The very act of what he said was aggressive.
“He did not think that was an inappropriate thing to say to me.” Gino’s legal team responded to the claims, stating to the press: “This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request for comment, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo.
“He does not recall it, nor accept that this happened. Mr D’Acampo is horrified to be accused of ‘power play’ and an ‘aggressive act’.
“He emphatically and unequivocally denies these allegations.”
Another allegation surfaced as a woman told reporters about her alleged encounter with Gino,saying: “He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else.
“And jumped on the bed and was sort of – leg up.” She expressed her revulsion, allegedly having had to witness Gino make a suggestive remark about his genitalia, “It’s only small.”
The chef’s legal representatives addressed this separate claim, telling the media entity: “Mr D’Acampo categorically denies these allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour. To his knowledge no such allegations have been made against him in relation to his time on ‘Gino’s Italian Express’ and this is the first time, six years later, he has been informed of these alleged incidents, and he does not accept them, not least because some of this is considered by Mr D’Acampo to be a fabricated work of fiction.
(Image: ITV)
“He has also been accused of telling a junior member of staff that he would “f**k” their girlfriend if the younger colleague didn’t fetch him an ice cream. To this, his legal representatives replied: “Mr D’Acampo is mortified to be accused of saying inappropriate words to a junior member of staff on Gino’s Italian Express. He does not recall this incident at all, and the words alleged are absolutely not ones that he would say.”
Objective Media Group relayed that upon hearing concerns, they addressed the matter with Gino, explaining “the differences between on screen character material and behaviour off screen with members of the team.”
It is also claimed that Gino said: “When are we all going to get drunk and have sex together,” in the presence of production staff. Responding to the slew of allegations, Gino maintained to ITV News: “I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago.
“I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone.
“This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me.”
He added: “Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately. I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of.
“I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting.”
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