Gregg Wallace has defended his decision to sell personalized video messages on Cameo for £37, stating that the venture helped him financially after his dismissal from the BBC's MasterChef. Wallace was removed from his role following an investigation into 83 historical allegations of workplace misconduct, with 45 of those accusations being upheld.
Wallace took to Instagram to address criticism, asserting that he "genuinely love[s] doing them and I take great pride in them," citing his five-star reviews on the platform as evidence. He acknowledged that the income from Cameo was crucial during his period of financial difficulty after losing his MasterChef job.
Previously, Wallace had to apologize to customers who paid for fitness coaching classes that he had stopped offering. These customers reported being unable to get a response from Wallace or his team after paying monthly fees for coaching sessions and access to a private WhatsApp group. A spokesperson for GreggWallace.Health apologized for the continued availability of the coaching option, stating it should have been removed as the service was no longer offered.
Wallace had attempted to sue the BBC for damages, alleging they infringed his human rights by asking the public to come forward with complaints about him. His legal team reportedly believes that the broadcaster's decision to invite anyone who had met him over 20 years to share their stories may have been an infringement of human rights. Wallace also claimed that no complaints had been received from staff over two decades of filming.
In November 2024, it was announced Wallace would step down from MasterChef during the investigation. A subsequent review upheld 45 of the 83 allegations, which primarily occurred between 2005 and 2018 and included inappropriate sexual language and humor, as well as instances of unwelcome physical contact and being found in a state of undress. Wallace had previously issued an apology for any distress caused, stating he never intended to harm or humiliate.
Wallace had also put his £1 million mansion on the market following his MasterChef departure. He stated that while he was not earning as much as before, he was still earning a living through Cameo to cover bills. He indicated a desire to downsize to a more affordable lifestyle in his sixties, aiming to reduce the pressure of maintaining a large property.