Latest news with #apologytour
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gino D'Acampo kicks off 'apology tour' with bizarre social media blitz as he hugs and kisses female employees in a 'bid to be uncancelled' after ITV axe following accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women
Gino D'Acampo has kicked off his reported 'apology tour' with a string of bizarre social media posts that saw him kissing and hugging female employees, following his ITV axe amid a series of misconduct claims. In recent months the TV chef, 48, has faced a string of accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women - which he has denied. ITV subsequently pulled all of Gino's shows from its upcoming schedules after the accusations were revealed in an investigation. But now in his bid to be uncanceled, Gino returned to the kitchen for a 'cheery corporate video' at one of his five remaining restaurants, after they were saved from closure earlier this year amid his company's mounting debts. And in one Instagram clip he offered his chefs tips before sharing warm hugs with female kitchen workers and pecking one on the cheek. A source told The Sun that while Gino knows he is 'persona non grata at ITV' he cannot be stopped 'having a voice' and 'rebuilding his brand' on social media. They said: 'The happy cheery corporate videos on Instagram are always part and parcel of any apology tour. Gino wants to maintain a united front and thinks the power of persuasion goes a long way'. 'Gino hopes people will see it and think "he's such a nice, down to earth guy, not too high and mighty to work in his own restaurant and look at everyone getting on with him, having laughs and banter"'. They went on to claim that amid Gregg Wallace and John Torode's Masterchef axing and fears the spotlight might turn back to him, Gino hopes to use his new social media presence as a 'distraction'. 'He's not naive, he knows he's not getting a primetime ITV slot anytime soon. But if he proves he can behave and audiences abroad respond well, the UK execs might just look twice'. MailOnline have contacted Gino's reps for comment. Following the chef's axe an insider told MailOnline: '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.' But now Gino has revealed he'll be back on screens this September with An Italian In Malta, a brand-new travelogue exploring the Mediterranean island he now calls a second home. And in one Instagram clip he offered his chefs tips before sharing warm hugs with female kitchen workers and pecking one on the cheek 'Gino hopes people will see it and think "he's such a nice, down to earth guy, not too high and mighty to work in his own restaurant and look at everyone getting on with him,"' Gino's firm who control the restaurants, Upmarket Leisure Ltd, has allegedly been struggling with mounting debt and a sale of the company fell through (pictured restaurant in London) He told The Mirror: 'The idea is to show everyone all over the world a bit about the country - I want to find the perfect restaurant, the perfect recipe, the perfect spot, I will speak to the local people, what they cook and how they cooked 200 years ago.' In another twist, Gino has also been quietly filming an acting project in Ireland, playing a grease-covered mechanic, marking his first proper stab at a scripted role. He revealed: 'I am playing a part in a series, my part is this Italian-American mechanic that is always in trouble with the police or always in trouble with the law and then he became a mechanic and he's helping the main character in the show. 'This is acting now, I'm not becoming a real mechanic, I'm useless at stuff like that.' MailOnline has approached representatives for Gino for comment. The comeback news follows months out of the limelight for the This Morning star, who stepped back from TV duties after ITV News published allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour - including claims of aggressive, sexualised language - spanning more than a decade. Gino said he 'firmly denied' the accusations, calling them 'simply not in my nature.' Despite his TV career imploding following the allegations, which sparked job offers to dry up, Gino insists he's ready to move forward, adding that not everyone has turned their back on him. Addressing rumours of a fallout with long-time co-star Gordon Ramsay, Gino insisted the two are still tight and described him as 'a very generous, cool guy'. He told The Mirror: 'If I FaceTime here he would answer of course, but if I FaceTime him and I'm on a show he will be really annoyed.' Earlier this month, Gino launched his first international restaurant, Luciano, in Malta, however, not everyone will welcome Gino's return with open arms. Just last month, during a risqué radio interview, the former I'm A Celeb star sparked fresh backlash with a string of crass comments about women's bodies claiming a 'real man' likes women to have 'things to grab' and admitting a preference for curvier figures. Responding when one of the presenters, named Nicole, said that she regularly dieted, he said: 'Only dogs like bones. 'A real man, he wants the meat, you know, the things to grab. Don't get too skinny, otherwise it's like, no.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside Gino D'Acampo's ‘mastermind plan' to be uncancelled as axed ITV star goes on ‘apology tour' after allegations
FIVE months after being sacked by ITV over his 'inappropriate and intimidating' behaviour, celebrity chef Gino G'Acampo has embarked on an 'apology tour' in a desperate bid to be 'uncancelled'. As The Sun revealed last week that Gino, 48, is planning to embark on some new business ventures in Australia, insiders tell us he is also masterminding a secret plan to save his career in the UK. 7 Those in the know tell us that the Italian TV chef has hatched a strategy to use his social media platforms, a place where he feels he can control his image and narrative, to win back the public. 'The power of persuasion' A source familiar with the situation explains: "TV bosses can refuse to put him on air but no one can stop him from having a voice on social media. "He can use that platform to stay connected with those who have stuck by him, reform his image for those who have turned their back on him and, he hopes, win over a new fanbase." But already it looks like Gino's endeavours on his social channels are landing badly. Just this month, Gino made a painfully transparent attempt to challenge claims he created an uncomfortable working environment. Posting footage of him hugging, kissing and holding hands with some of his restaurant staff during a recent visit to his Italian chain in Newcastle, Gino said: 'Another fantastic day with my team. 'I've always said… A happy kitchen creates fantastic food.' He chose Mark Ambor's song 'Belong Together' to play over the video. Our source continues: "The happy cheery corporate videos on Instagram are always part and parcel of any apology tour. Gino wants to maintain a united front and thinks the power of persuasion goes a long way. "Gino hopes people will see it and think 'he's such a nice, down to earth guy, not too high and mighty to work in his own restaurant and look at everyone getting on with him, having laughs and banter'." Gino D'Acampo slammed for 'highly inappropriate' cooking video as fans say 'that's disturbing and upsetting' However, amid his increase in social media content, Gino came under fire for posting a 'highly inappropriate' video involving two live quails that was described as 'disturbing and upsetting'. The unapologetic chef was seen kissing the two birds in one shot before dangling their corpses in another - choosing Bob Marley's hit Three Little Birds as the accompanying music. It comes after more than 40 people described "unacceptable", "distressing" and "horrendous" experiences while working with Gino over a 12-year period. Despite ITV yanking his shows off air, including a brand new series of Family Fortunes, the TV chef - who denies any wrongdoing - is refusing to accept his television career is over. Soft rebrand As well as ramping up his presence on content creation online, last month, Gino announced he's filming a new cooking show, An Italian in Malta. It's not known which production company it's been picked up by or when it will air. An insider told The Sun: "Gino knows he's persona non grata at ITV, so the plan now is to rebuild his reputation elsewhere quietly and carefully. "He's been telling people this new travel series is about food and culture, but really it's a soft rebrand. If it lands well internationally, he can turn around and say, 'look, I've still got it'. "Gino thinks he's being smart about not throwing himself straight back into the UK spotlight. The idea is to go away, be seen working, stay visible, but not too visible and then come back once the dust has settled." 7 7 7 'A welcome distraction' It is understood that Gino is secretly relieved that other presenters are copping the heat in the public eye too. "With Gregg Wallace's scandal exploding, as well as John Torode's recent sacking, there's a sense that the spotlight might shift and the focus will be on him. He's hoping by using the distraction, he can quietly edge back into the fold. "He's not naive, he knows he's not getting a primetime ITV slot anytime soon. But if he proves he can behave and audiences abroad respond well, the UK execs might just look twice. "It's early days, but there's talk of him expanding the format to other countries if Malta and Ireland go well. He's already been in touch with producers in southern Europe about spin-offs." It's believed Gino is also pinning hopes on his upcoming ventures in Australia paving the way for him to get back into good graces in Blighty too. Gino is set to split his time between the UK and Down Under over the next few years, as he is planning to launch two new restaurants and a cookware line in Oz. 'He's been inundated with offers Down Under following a really successful tour there," a source told us. 'He spent some time in Australia a few years ago, and loved it. He still has a large social media following and plans to capitalise on that in the next stage of his career.' It's thought that Gino hopes he'll land more TV work in Australia, which might then encourage British telly bosses to take another chance on him. "Gino knows it won't be easy, but he's confident he can rebuild his reputation and one day, he's convinced he will be back on UK screens." Gino was a regular chef on This Morning from 2009 - forming a close friendship with then-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. But when an ITV News report in February first revealed the allegations against Gino on set, Holly distanced herself publicly from her once firm friend. His former ITV co-stars Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix also appear to have stepped back from their friendship. In 2022 an internal investigation into Gino was launched at production company Betty TV in relation to alleged inappropriate behaviour and language on the set of Gino's Italy – Like Mamma Used to Make. The production company Objective Media Group said in an email seen by ITV in 2024 that issues also arose in 2023 on the Emission Impossible set. Gino told ITV News at the time: "I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me. "Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately. "I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting." The Sun has approached Gino for comment.
