Television chef Gino D'Acampo has sparked fresh controversy during his comeback shows in Canada, just months after ITV pulled his programmes from UK schedules following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Risqué Antics on Canadian Stage
The 48-year-old chef, who has denied all misconduct claims, was seen sucking spaghetti directly from a female fan's mouth during his live cooking demonstration in Toronto. The incident occurred while D'Acampo was promoting his new series, An Italian In Canada, touring both Toronto and Montreal this week.
In another eyebrow-raising moment, D'Acampo invited male audience members on stage to whisk eggs, before instructing them to turn their backs to the audience. The gesture appeared to suggest their vigorous arm movements resembled a lewd act, drawing mixed reactions from the crowd.
Mixed Reactions and Past Controversies
The chef's provocative behaviour didn't go unchallenged. Another female fan slapped him on the shoulder, apparently taking offence to his choice of words during the performance. Despite the mixed reception, D'Acampo shared clips from the shows on his Instagram, captioning them: 'Two fantastic live cooking shows in Montreal and Toronto… Grazie Canada, you guys rock'.
This Canadian tour represents D'Acampo's first major public appearances since Daily Mail revealed he was poised to make a comeback with support from female producers who believe he has been wronged by the allegations. These producers, whom he has worked with previously, are reportedly helping him clear his name and win back broadcaster trust.
However, the chef's return to the spotlight has been marked by several controversial moments. Earlier this year, during a Maltese radio appearance, D'Acampo made a series of suggestive comments, including boasting about Italian men giving 'maximum satisfaction' and telling the female host she was 'too pretty for radio'.
Background and Fallout
The chef, who shares sons Luciano, 23, and Rocco, 20, with wife Jessica Morrison, also made eyebrow-raising comments about their namesakes, hinting he named his second son after porn actor Rocco Siffredi. He further remarked on women's dieting habits, claiming 'only dogs like bones' and insisting men want 'things to grab'.
ITV subsequently removed all of D'Acampo's shows from its upcoming schedules after accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women emerged in an investigation. An insider told Daily Mail at the time: 'He's in a lot of trouble and ITV don't want to be in a BBC situation [with Gregg Wallace] or have a repeat of Schofield so they are covering all their bases.'
Despite the controversy, D'Acampo appears determined to rebuild his career, with his Canadian tour representing his most significant step toward rehabilitation since the allegations surfaced.
