The BBC star on the centre of the intercourse photos scandal is ‘extraordinarily indignant’, a former colleague has mentioned – as a fourth younger individual got here ahead to air allegations in regards to the presenter.
The unnamed presenter, who was accused of paying a youngster £35,000 for sexually express pictures, was yesterday accused by a second younger one who mentioned he had despatched them abusive messages on a courting app.
A 3rd younger individual mentioned they met the presenter throughout the third nationwide lockdown in 2021 whereas the BBC was on the similar time telling tens of millions of individuals to comply with the foundations as a part of its protection of the pandemic.
And final evening a fourth individual got here ahead to assert he had despatched them ‘creepy’ messages utilizing love hearts and kisses on Instagram once they had been 17 years outdated – although it isn’t identified if the presenter knew their age on the time.
Former BBC presenter Jon Sopel has weighed in on the row yesterday afternoon – earlier than the fourth individual got here ahead – telling his Information Brokers podcast that the unnamed BBC presenter is ‘extraordinarily indignant’ over how the claims had been coated.
Jon Sopel mentioned the unnamed BBC star was ‘extraordinarily indignant’ over the claims had been reported
The unnamed BBC presenter allegedly met a stranger from a courting website in February 2021. Pictured: BBC New Broadcasting Home in London
‘Various folks have been in contact with the presenter to say they really feel righteous fury over the way in which The Solar has coated this and it’s honest to say that the presenter on the coronary heart of that is additionally extraordinarily indignant over loads of The Solar protection and is satisfied they’re making an attempt to dig and discover new grime to hurt this specific individual’s popularity,’ he mentioned.
In the meantime, one senior BBC insider described the temper inside New Broadcasting Home as more and more ‘fraught’. He advised the Times: ‘Everybody feels a bit blindsided. Individuals are deeply annoyed that the BBC has change into the story. Tim’s feedback at the moment helped to clear up among the questions however he nonetheless hasn’t answered all the things.’
Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine has referred to as on the presenter to establish himself to cease different BBC stars from being defamed.
He mentioned: ‘He ought to now come ahead publicly. These new allegations will end in but extra vitriol being thrown at completely harmless colleagues of his. And the BBC, which I’m certain he loves, is on its knees with this.’
Yesterday, on the heels of the unique allegations that the unnamed star had paid {the teenager} for express photographs, a second individual mentioned they’d been despatched abusive messages after assembly on a courting app and a 3rd individual mentioned they’d met the presenter.
The third individual mentioned they met up after months of interactions, and that the presenter despatched them £650 in money and requested them for an image, The Sun experiences.
The third stranger claims the presenter travelled into a distinct county to fulfill them at their flat in February 2021 when guidelines included a keep at residence order and mixing solely between family bubbles.
The individual claimed on the assembly, which got here months after they began speaking on the courting website in November 2020, ‘he got here spherical for an hour…. We simply chatted. He was obsessive about me making him a cup of tea.’
In an interview with the newspaper, the individual claims they met on account that didn’t have an image of the presenter however they ‘put two and two collectively’ when the BBC star advised him his title and what he did for a residing.
They mentioned that the host was keen to fulfill face-to-face, and was asking to do that even when the restrictions ‘saved getting stricter’ because the pandemic continued.
Nonetheless, once they turned down probabilities to fulfill the BBC presenter, he allegedly despatched ‘a barrage of messages’ saying he ‘felt undesirable’.
The 23-year-old claims that once they did meet he ‘got here spherical for an hour’.
Tim Davie, director common of the BBC, revealed at the moment he has not spoken with the presenter on the centre of the scandal. Pictured: Mr Davie at a service celebrating the seventy fifth anniversary of the NHS at Westminster Abbey
They advised The Solar: ‘I used to be fairly shocked that he broke the foundations to come back and meet me due to who he’s. I used to be only a random individual on-line.
‘We simply chatted. He was obsessive about me making him a cup of tea.’
The newspaper claims to have a sworn assertion from the courting website person claiming they acquired a cost of £200 – despatched on the day of the go to – and one other two of £200 and £250 by PayPal from the presenter.
They mentioned: ‘He gave me money thrice. Though he began to make me really feel like he owned me as a result of he was giving me cash. He was at all times speaking about his profession and was very conceited.’
They added that they started to really feel ‘used’ and ‘uncomfortable’ by the TV star’s behaviour and demanding messages.
They mentioned they needed folks to ‘know the reality’ in regards to the presenter, including: ‘It’s full hypocrisy of the BBC star. He thought he was above everyone else.
‘The BBC factors the finger at others who do fallacious however their huge star was pleased to behave like the foundations don’t apply to him.’
The Solar mentioned it had contacted the BBC and the presenter in query over the claims.
And final evening the paper claimed it had been contacted by a fourth one who alleged the BBC star had contacted them out of the blue on their Instagram account and used kisses and love hearts in messages to them once they had been 17 years outdated.
The person, who’s now 22, advised The Sun the person despatched them a love coronary heart emoji in October 2018 with out ever having spoken to him earlier than.
This was adopted by sporadic messages between the pair, with the individual even advising them to participate in a BBC college scheme when given the chance.
They advised The Solar: ‘Wanting again now it does appear creepy as a result of he was messaging me after I was nonetheless at college.
‘In mild of all the things now, I really feel shocked as a result of as a broadcaster it’s a title everybody would belief.
‘I had no motive to assume it was something past that at the moment.’
They added: ‘Figuring out what I do know now, I really feel I used to be a bit naive.’
Of their later conversations, together with when college was talked about, the presenter stopped utilizing love hearts and emojis, with the teen including: ‘In mild of what I do know now, it feels as if when he realised I used to be not flirtatious again, he modified in the way in which he would reply.’
It comes after allegations the presenter had despatched abusive and menacing messages to a distinct individual of their 20s after assembly them on a courting app.
They declare they had been put beneath strain to fulfill with the star however by no means did, the BBC reported.
After they hinted on-line that they may title them, they allege they had been despatched abusive messages that had been full of expletives.
The brand new claims increase additional questions in regards to the star’s conduct lower than per week after The Solar newspaper reported allegations that he paid a youngster £35,000 for sexually express photos, beginning once they had been 17.
The individual concerned has mentioned there was no wrongdoing and the claims are ‘garbage’.
BBC Director Normal Tim Davie today denied it is ‘odd’ that he’s but to talk to the star.
In accordance with the BBC, the dialog between the individual of their 20s and the presenter moved onto different platforms after starting on a courting app.
The presenter then revealed his id and requested the younger individual to not inform anybody.
The younger individual later posted on-line alluding to having had contact with a BBC presenter and hinting they may title him.
The presenter then despatched a lot of ‘threatening messages’ which the BBC says it has seen and confirmed got here from a cellphone quantity belonging to the presenter.
The BBC mentioned the younger individual felt ‘threatened’ by the messages and ‘stays scared’.
BBC Information mentioned it had contacted the presenter through his lawyer however had acquired no response to the allegations.
Earlier at the moment, Mr Davie additionally steered the privateness of the star was a consideration in why the company didn’t converse to the family title till nearly two months after they first acquired a criticism from {the teenager}’s household.
He defended the seven-week delay between the preliminary criticism and confronting the presenter, insisting that the claims needed to be verified first earlier than being put to employees.
However he admitted it was ‘honest’ to query why the ‘very critical’ criticism was solely adopted up by a single name and e mail to {the teenager}’s mother and father.
Requested if it was ‘odd’ that he himself has not chatted to the presenter, Davie replied: ‘No’, including: ‘I believe it’s vital they’re spoken to by a really senior supervisor’.
He was additionally requested if he knew ‘categorically’ whether or not or not the star paid for the alleged sufferer’s lawyer.
He mentioned: ‘That’s not data I’m social gathering to. I don’t even assume that’s one thing for the BBC.’
However he did admit that the scandal had been ‘clearly damaging’ to the company’s popularity.
‘The BBC is usually within the midst of fairly painful and troublesome affairs and storms,’ he mentioned earlier than including: ‘These are clearly damaging to the BBC it, will not be a great state of affairs.’
In a serious replace on the case, Mr Davie additionally mentioned he had ‘paused’ their inside investigation whereas the police take into account if any crimes have been dedicated after a gathering with Scotland Yard yesterday.
It’s claimed the BBC star broke lockdown guidelines to participate within the assembly at a 23-year-old’s flat
Supply: | This text initially belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
