I have always disliked this pathetic creepy man, but am surprised that it's taken so long for complaints to be made. My sincere wish is to see this kind of horrible behaviour put firmly in the grave. I like laughing, love a good joke, but belittling people is never funny. Well done to the whistle blowers. I am ashamed of what happened to you and your husband, Bear. It should never have happened.
I was talking to my Mum about this yesterday and I said that, of course, he will deny any wrongdoing because he probably genuinely believes he hasn’t done anything wrong. It will be “oh it was just banter, I was just joking around, meant no harm, oh, heavens everyone is so sensitive these days”. I applaud every single woman who has said “enough!” and brought this matter to light. The fact that he was removed from at least one other programme shows that there was enough evidence to support the current allegations. Men in power get away with this behaviour all the time, and, as a woman, it’s exhausting. Thank you, Bear.
PS Still loving your book, currently on Communism x
Thanks for your considered composition, retelling those awful, crass and disgraceful comments that were designed to belittle and denigrate you and your husband. Your composure allowed the opportunity to highlight the lack of character and confidence of the cretin making those childish & infantile insults. That creep isn't credible to clean your boots and I hope Karma catches up with him one day
As a young woman, back in the days when I worked in an office, I used to get very leery comments. I just felt that it was "how things were" at the time. I would avoid any of them who did this, and made sure I wasn't alone with them. I used to feel that they did and said these things because they weren't getting any sex. So, as I was in a secure relationship I just didn't bother about it or get upset, I just was happy that I was better than them. But if it had progressed to physical harassment or they didn't take no for an answer, I would have made my feelings known. And where I worked there would have been swift action taken. There is absolutely no excuse for the comments made to you and your husband, Bear. I am so sorry you had to endure that. I would have thought that everyone else in the room felt equally uncomfortable. But why didn't they say something to stop it? Awful.
Thanks for sharing this Bear, and so sorry this happened to you both. I started work in the 80’s and had to endure unbelievable sexist and frankly abusive behaviour - one of the reasons we didn’t say anything was because men would blame us for our time of the month, or frigidity, or call us ugly/plain/tight - and so we would think it was our fault - plus the power dynamic was so firmly in men’s court we feared losing our jobs or reputation. I’m so glad it is improving and also very glad us middle aged women have an opportunity to speak up finally.
You really are an absolute treasure dear Bear 🐻. You so eloquently slap people down and tell it exactly like it is. Misogynistic comments, sexual " banter" and other nasty, snidey comments should never see the light of day. Humanity should by now have moved on from dreadfully bigotted comments. Very, very well said, as always. I am sending you a Bear hug from me. You are just a wonderful person and I love you so much for your honesty xxxxxxxx ❤️❤️❤️🐻🫂
Thank you Bear for this analysis. It's really helpful. Pushing back not only takes courage but clarity of thought & language of expression. You are a master of that & honesty, truth and justice. 🐻🫂
The "wonderful" world of banter! I have an old school friend who happens to be gay. He's roughly the same age as me and has seen a lot of changes during his lifetime, as you can imagine.
We were having a bit of a heart to heart one day about our lives and he said that he held back from telling anyone about his sexuality for ages purely to avoid the "who does what to whom" situation. It's something that is never about heterosexual relationships.
Not on the same level, I know, but I started a new job a long while back. It was known by a number of the staff that I had a famous father. I was asked by someone I was working with why I was working as, according to him, I was sooo well off that I didn't need to work at all! "Just saying. No offence but you're stopping somebody else working, aren't you?"
This went on for a considerable time until another one of my colleagues realised that I was living in a council house because there wasn't a way that I could afford to buy somewhere to live in the area.
There was always, though, a lingering sense of resentment that I had got the job because of who I was and not because that I had the right qualifications for the role.
Banter has, like unfettered "free speech", has the capability of becoming harassment, which can be very debilitating for the person on the receiving end.
It appears that in Gregg Wallace's case, his actions have caused a great deal of hurt to people who have not wanted to be the target of his cheeky chappy banter. It also appears that it wasn’t just verbal, either.
I feel for his victims. I also feel for the people who have taken part in Masterchef, past and present, who will now have a taint of being on a show hosted by him. And there are those who took part in the now-cancelled Christmas specials of Masterchef: The Professionals. Their hopes of being recognised for their culinary skills on national TV have been dashed by the actions/banter of one man.
I have always disliked this pathetic creepy man, but am surprised that it's taken so long for complaints to be made. My sincere wish is to see this kind of horrible behaviour put firmly in the grave. I like laughing, love a good joke, but belittling people is never funny. Well done to the whistle blowers. I am ashamed of what happened to you and your husband, Bear. It should never have happened.
I was talking to my Mum about this yesterday and I said that, of course, he will deny any wrongdoing because he probably genuinely believes he hasn’t done anything wrong. It will be “oh it was just banter, I was just joking around, meant no harm, oh, heavens everyone is so sensitive these days”. I applaud every single woman who has said “enough!” and brought this matter to light. The fact that he was removed from at least one other programme shows that there was enough evidence to support the current allegations. Men in power get away with this behaviour all the time, and, as a woman, it’s exhausting. Thank you, Bear.
PS Still loving your book, currently on Communism x
Thanks for your considered composition, retelling those awful, crass and disgraceful comments that were designed to belittle and denigrate you and your husband. Your composure allowed the opportunity to highlight the lack of character and confidence of the cretin making those childish & infantile insults. That creep isn't credible to clean your boots and I hope Karma catches up with him one day
Keep the faith
Sending you love and light
As a young woman, back in the days when I worked in an office, I used to get very leery comments. I just felt that it was "how things were" at the time. I would avoid any of them who did this, and made sure I wasn't alone with them. I used to feel that they did and said these things because they weren't getting any sex. So, as I was in a secure relationship I just didn't bother about it or get upset, I just was happy that I was better than them. But if it had progressed to physical harassment or they didn't take no for an answer, I would have made my feelings known. And where I worked there would have been swift action taken. There is absolutely no excuse for the comments made to you and your husband, Bear. I am so sorry you had to endure that. I would have thought that everyone else in the room felt equally uncomfortable. But why didn't they say something to stop it? Awful.
Thanks for sharing this Bear, and so sorry this happened to you both. I started work in the 80’s and had to endure unbelievable sexist and frankly abusive behaviour - one of the reasons we didn’t say anything was because men would blame us for our time of the month, or frigidity, or call us ugly/plain/tight - and so we would think it was our fault - plus the power dynamic was so firmly in men’s court we feared losing our jobs or reputation. I’m so glad it is improving and also very glad us middle aged women have an opportunity to speak up finally.
Sensitive and insightful. I’m so sorry and ashamed that you and your husband suffered this.
You really are an absolute treasure dear Bear 🐻. You so eloquently slap people down and tell it exactly like it is. Misogynistic comments, sexual " banter" and other nasty, snidey comments should never see the light of day. Humanity should by now have moved on from dreadfully bigotted comments. Very, very well said, as always. I am sending you a Bear hug from me. You are just a wonderful person and I love you so much for your honesty xxxxxxxx ❤️❤️❤️🐻🫂
Thank you Bear for this analysis. It's really helpful. Pushing back not only takes courage but clarity of thought & language of expression. You are a master of that & honesty, truth and justice. 🐻🫂
Thank you for your thoughtful words
There should be no place for this kind of belittling "banter"
It isn't just "banter" when it offends and denigrates a person
Thank you
greetings from a white haired old lady
Been there, avoided that holidays eg 🎄 were the worst
if you objected to drunken obnoxious men slavering around, didn't find them incredibly irresistible, attractive, sexy even
you were either Frigid or Lesbian
I mean, how could any 'real' woman resist
that was about 1970
25 years later, no improvement, and oh look, yet another 25 years and nothing changes
it's a power thing, macho men (aka bullies), women still tolerate it
nice one Bear, keep up the good fight
Evening, my dear Bear!
The "wonderful" world of banter! I have an old school friend who happens to be gay. He's roughly the same age as me and has seen a lot of changes during his lifetime, as you can imagine.
We were having a bit of a heart to heart one day about our lives and he said that he held back from telling anyone about his sexuality for ages purely to avoid the "who does what to whom" situation. It's something that is never about heterosexual relationships.
Not on the same level, I know, but I started a new job a long while back. It was known by a number of the staff that I had a famous father. I was asked by someone I was working with why I was working as, according to him, I was sooo well off that I didn't need to work at all! "Just saying. No offence but you're stopping somebody else working, aren't you?"
This went on for a considerable time until another one of my colleagues realised that I was living in a council house because there wasn't a way that I could afford to buy somewhere to live in the area.
There was always, though, a lingering sense of resentment that I had got the job because of who I was and not because that I had the right qualifications for the role.
Banter has, like unfettered "free speech", has the capability of becoming harassment, which can be very debilitating for the person on the receiving end.
It appears that in Gregg Wallace's case, his actions have caused a great deal of hurt to people who have not wanted to be the target of his cheeky chappy banter. It also appears that it wasn’t just verbal, either.
I feel for his victims. I also feel for the people who have taken part in Masterchef, past and present, who will now have a taint of being on a show hosted by him. And there are those who took part in the now-cancelled Christmas specials of Masterchef: The Professionals. Their hopes of being recognised for their culinary skills on national TV have been dashed by the actions/banter of one man.