The TV chef and restaurateur has been accused of being inappropriate and intimidating and making highly sexualised remarks by a number of people who have worked with him, which D’Acampo has ‘firmly’ denied.
Speaking to ITV, one woman said that D’Acampo had made a sexual comment to her while working together on a magazine shoot in 2011, describing it as “some kind of power play”.
“The very act of what he said was aggressive,” she says. “He did not think that was an inappropriate thing to say to me.”
Responding to the specific allegation, D’Acampo’s legal team, said: “This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request for comment, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo.
“He does not recall it, nor accept that this happened. Mr D’Acampo is horrified to be accused of “power play” and an “aggressive act”. He emphatically and unequivocally denies these allegations.”
In a statement to ITV responding to all of the claims, D’Acampo said: “I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago.
“I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. 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.”
ITV has also reported that bosses at Objective Media Group, the production company behind Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip in 2018, seem to have been aware of concerns about D’Acampo’s behaviour.
In a statement to Sky News, Objective Media Group said: “We have robust protocols and procedures in place for all cast and crew, including on-screen talent, that we review regularly whilst also ensuring that we take into account developments regarding industry wide ‘Duty of Care’ guidelines.
“Across all productions we encourage people to raise any concerns at the earliest opportunity... If there are incidents or complaints reported, we implement our Escalation Procedure and ensure that a full and thorough process is followed in close collaboration with the broadcaster.”
The Italian chef has been a regular face on TV over the past few decades. In 2009, he was crowned King of the Jungle in the ninth series of I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and has made regular cooking appearances on This Morning.
He has also hosted Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip alongside Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix since 2018, where the trio visit various countries trying the local cuisine.
Last year D’Acampo’s London-based My Pasta Bar brand was wound up by administrators having fallen into liquidation in January 2022 with debts of £5m.
Last year he opened a new restaurant within Manchester’s INNSiDE by Meliá hotel and also currently operates restaurants in Liverpool, Leeds, London, and Newcastle under the Luciano by Gino D’Acampo and Gino D’Acampo brands.