Gino D'Acampo has been accused of "distressing" and "sexually inappropriate" behaviour in an ITV News probe.
Dozens of people have detailed experiences described variously as "unacceptable," "distressing" and "horrendous" while working with him over a period spanning more than 12 years.
The TV chef who has appeared on the likes of ITV's Family Fortunes and Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible faces accusations dating back over ten years. Individuals are said to have been fearful of any consequences if they ever spoke of their alleged encounters with the 48-year-old.
Gino has "firmly denied" the allegations made by "dozens" of people", adding that they were "deeply upsetting". One woman, who has been named as Hannah to protect her identity has told an investigation that she was on the receiving end of vulgar comments from Gino in 2011.
She claims Mr D'Acampo said he would "like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter." The woman, whose identity has been protected claims that there were laughs from crew members after he made the comment. But she says she saw the "shock" and "horror", claiming his alleged behaviour made her feel "very, very, very small."
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ITV)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."
In response, Gino's legal representatives told the outlet: "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."
However, another woman has spoken about their alleged interaction with Gino, telling the news broadcaster: "He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else. And jumped on the bed and was sort of – leg up." The woman, whose identity had also been protected went on to claim that she felt "disgusted" after having to "sit there" looking at Gino who allegedly made a reference to his penis, saying: "It's only small."
Legal representatives for the chef told the broadcaster: "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."
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. Responding to this claim, his lawyers said: "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."
A spokesperson for Objective Media Group said that when concerns were raised, Gino was "spoken to about the differences between on screen character material and behaviour off screen with members of the team." Gino is also accused of saying: "When are we all going to get drunk and have sex together," to members of a production team.
In response to all allegations, Gino told 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.
"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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