Jeremy Clarkson Slams Cancel Culture in Defense of Gino D’Acampo, Wynne Evans, and Gregg Wallace
Jeremy Clarkson, known for his unfiltered opinions, has launched a furious rant against cancel culture, coming to the defense of several stars—Gino D’Acampo, Wynne Evans, and Gregg Wallace—who have found themselves in the crosshairs of public scrutiny.
Gino, the popular Italian TV chef, is currently facing allegations from numerous individuals who claim his behavior over the past 12 years has been “distressing” and “unacceptable.” Meanwhile, Gregg Wallace, a MasterChef judge, has been accused of “inappropriate behavior” by several women. As for Wynne Evans, the Welsh opera singer and Go Compare star, he’s under fire for making a vile comment about Strictly Come Dancing’s Janette Manrara, which has sparked major backlash.
Clarkson, 64, wasn’t having any of it. In his latest column for The Sun, he made his feelings abundantly clear. “None of them is accused of doing something illegal. They just said something or did something which someone found offensive,” he wrote. “And that’s that. It doesn’t even have to be a current misdemeanour. It’s getting to the point where soon only Monty Don will be left.”
He went on to argue that these stars, who are now facing career consequences, haven’t even been given a fair chance to defend themselves. “That’s bad enough when you get fired from a job stacking shelves, but when you’re a household face and get catapulted into oblivion, it’s a very different kettle of fish,” Clarkson pointed out.
Gino D’Acampo Denies Allegations
Gino D’Acampo has firmly denied the allegations against him, calling them “deeply upsetting” and completely out of character. ITV, however, has started to distance itself from Gino, with two episodes of Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South being replaced with other programming on Sunday. ITV also swapped Family Fortunes, hosted by Gino, with Wheel of Fortune in its prime slot last week.
Sources suggest that ITV is now under increasing pressure to explain why Gino’s alleged behavior was not acted upon sooner, with reports claiming complaints had been raised about him a decade ago. ITV, for its part, stated that where concerns are raised, they investigate the situation thoroughly and take appropriate action if necessary.
Gregg Wallace and Wynne Evans Under Fire
Gregg Wallace, 60, has vehemently denied accusations of making sexually suggestive comments toward female co-workers, including a Celebrity MasterChef contestant. His legal team has dismissed the allegations, calling them entirely false. Despite this, the scandal has tarnished his reputation, with ITV also being under scrutiny for how the matter was handled.
Meanwhile, Wynne Evans, known for his Go Compare ads, is facing backlash after a crude remark he made about Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara was made public. The comment, involving a demeaning term, led to him stepping away from the Strictly live tour and other commitments. Despite this, Evans is reportedly planning to take the BBC to a tribunal, claiming unfair treatment.
Support for Gino and Other Stars
Clarkson isn’t the only one standing by the accused stars. Actor John Barrowman has spoken out in defense of Gino, claiming that much of his behavior—such as cooking naked in an apron on This Morning—was encouraged by TV producers. “They’re the ones who sexualized him,” Barrowman said, adding that producers would often push him and others into situations that now seem inappropriate in hindsight.
Presenter Richard Osman also weighed in, suggesting that people only lose their jobs after a pattern of behavior emerges. He emphasized that a few isolated incidents don’t warrant career-ending consequences, especially if the behavior hasn’t affected a wide number of people.
The Broader Debate on Cancel Culture
As these controversies unfold, the wider debate about cancel culture continues to rage. Is it fair for stars to face professional consequences over comments or actions that may have been accepted in a different context? Clarkson argues that we are too quick to cast people aside without offering them a chance to explain themselves or change.
For now, the future of these stars remains uncertain, as Gino, Gregg, and Wynne all face the fallout of public opinion. It’s clear that Clarkson isn’t ready to let them be thrown under the bus without a fight, and many others in the industry appear to share his frustration with the current state of cancel culture.