John Torode, the MasterChef presenter, has been dismissed from the BBC show after an upheld allegation of using racist language, but reports linking the incident to him singing a Kanye West song are inaccurate, according to BBC News.
The upheld complaint relates to an alleged incident in 2018, when Torode is said to have used the N-word on set after filming ended, directed at a member of staff. The earlier report that he repeated lyrics from Kanye West's Gold Digger at a social gathering in 2019 was not the basis for the upheld finding.
Torode denies the allegation, stating: 'I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.' He said the independent investigation could not specify the date or year of the alleged incident.
The BBC confirmed that Torode's contract on MasterChef would not be renewed, saying: 'We will not tolerate racist language of any kind.' The broadcaster added that it had told the show's maker, Banijay UK, that action must be taken.
Torode was the subject of nine complaints, of which eight were rejected. The single upheld allegation was of racist language. He said he had hoped to have some say in his exit from the show, which he had worked on since its 2005 relaunch.
