Gino D'Acampo allegedly made a crude comment to a TV runner about their girlfriend.
The chef, 48, has been accused of "distressing" and "sexually inappropriate" behaviour in an ITV News probe. Dozens of people have come forward and made accusations against D'Acampo, all of which he strongly denies. The allegations date back up to 12 years. But one woman claims she saw him allegedly threaten a younger member of staff.
The incident, in 2019, has left staff so intimidated that they have to leave the room if they see Mr D'Acampo on their TV screens. Speaking in the report, one woman who chose to remain anonymous said the threat involved the TV runners girlfriend.
She said: "I was present when Gino said to the runner, 'If you don't get me a Cornetto I will f*** your girlfriend.'" The woman went on to add: "I felt appalled, disgusted, embarrassed and very angry."
People who worked on the set claim the the memory has been etched in their minds ever since. One female crew member said it had "stuck in my head", adding: "He was using his power to bully and intimidate us. For what? A cookery programme." Speaking to ITV News as part of their probe, the woman said that she believed Gino's "cheeky chappy" persona had allowed him to "hide in plain site."
In response to this allegation, Mr D'Acampo's legal representative 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."
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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English (US) ·