Gregg Wallace has defended his decision to sell personalized video messages on Cameo for £37, stating the practice helped him financially after his sacking from MasterChef. Wallace was dismissed by the BBC following an investigation into 83 historical allegations of workplace misconduct, 45 of which were upheld.
Wallace took to Instagram to address criticism, asserting that he takes "great pride" in the Cameo videos he creates for fans. He explained that the earnings from these messages "really did help us out when I lost my job." He also highlighted his five-star reviews on the platform as evidence of his commitment.
This comes after a previous instance where Wallace faced disappointment from customers who paid for fitness coaching classes that he had stopped providing. Customers reported being charged but unable to get a response from Wallace or his team, leading to one-star reviews on Tripadvisor. A spokesperson for GreggWallace.Health apologized, stating the coaching option should have been removed as the service was no longer offered.
Wallace also attempted to sue the BBC for damages, alleging they failed to disclose his personal data, which caused him distress. He later dropped this claim. He has contended that the BBC's actions, including asking the public to come forward with complaints, may have infringed his human rights. Wallace stated that his lawyers believe the "decision to invite anybody who had ever worked with me (or met me) to come forward and tell their stories" after his reputation was already being "dragged through the mud" might constitute an infringement.
He previously issued an apology for any distress caused by the allegations, stating he "never set out to harm or humiliate." However, he also claimed in a Substack post that the investigation process was not a legal one and the "standard of proof would not stand up in a court of law."
Wallace, who co-hosted MasterChef with John Torode for nearly 20 years, stepped away from the show in November 2024 during the investigation. A review by law firm Lewis Silkin found that most substantiated allegations, which occurred between 2005 and 2018, related to inappropriate sexual language and humor, with a smaller number involving other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress.
Wallace had reportedly earned up to £400,000 a year from the BBC. He had also put his £1 million mansion on the market following his MasterChef axe, but stated he did not need to sell it, explaining that Cameo earnings were helping to cover bills and that he was seeking a more affordable lifestyle in his sixties.