BBC Presenters denies involvement in £35,000 paid to a teenager for sexual images
Rylan Clark and Jeremy Vine have both taken to social media to distance themselves from reports that a top BBC star paid a vulnerable teenager £35,000 for sexual pictures that the youngster used to buy crack cocaine.
A presenter, who is described as well-known but has not been named, allegedly began paying the teenager when they were 17, and sent them the money which they used to fund a drug addiction, MailOnline reports.
The child’s mother, who has made the shocking allegations in May, told the Sun she feels ‘sick’ whenever she sees the man on TV, as questions grow over why it took so long for the corporation to act.
Today Rylan, who has presented on BBC Radio Two among a string of other work, was the first to declare he was not the host in question.
He wrote: ‘Not sure why my names floating about but re that story in The Sun – that ain’t me babe.
I’m currently filming a show in Italy for the BBC, so take my name out ya mouths.’
Vine then also distanced himself from the claims, adding: Just to say I’m very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday — whoever the ‘BBC Presenter’ in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain’t me.’
The allegations were made to the corporation by the child’s mother in May, but the star remained on air for some time after that.
She told the Sun she feels ‘sick’ whenever she sees the man on TV.
BBC News entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba today said that the unnamed presenter will not appear on air in the near future.
He told the BBC News channel: ‘We understand that the presenter is currently not scheduled to be on air in the near future.’
Today, the BBC’s culture editor Katie Razzall said the presenter’s continued presence on its content after a serious allegation was made ‘leads to questions about what steps the Corporation took after the complaint.’
She said many questions were still unanswered, including how the investigation was undertaken and if it was appropriate for the unnamed presenter to remain on air following the allegation.
Criticism was also made on social media, with one user writing: ‘They were approached by the child’s parents with proof back in May! I’ve carried out many workplace investigations in my time and it certainly doesn’t take months!’
The unnamed star was said to have requested ‘performances’ from the individual, who told their mother they would then ‘get their bits out’.
The BBC said in a statement today that it treats any allegations ‘very seriously’, though it appeared to suggest that its initial investigation may have been hampered by a lack of response from the family.
The star was said to have requested ‘performances’ from the individual, now aged 20, who told their mother they would then ‘get their bits out’.
It is claimed the star sent hundreds or even thousands of pounds at once, once depositing a sum of £5,000 in the teenager’s bank account.
The stricken mother said: ‘Whenever I see him on telly, I feel sick.
‘I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life — taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.’
She continued: ‘The money had been in exchange for sexually explicit photographs of my child.’
