Now Capital Radio axes DJ Westwood over abuse claims
UNDER-FIRE radio DJ Tim Westwood was forced to step down from Capital Xtra last night in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations.
The bishop’s son, 64, parted ways with the radio station ‘until further notice’ after seven women accused him of predatory sexual behaviour.
Global, which owns Capital, faced criticism when it refused to investigate claims about the former Radio 1 presenter when they surfaced online two years ago.
Labour MP Jess Phillips said at the time: ‘Surely an investigation of allegations is the least that should be done. Organisations should have systems in place to investigate complaints against their staff.’
But Capital bowed to pressure last night following a joint investigation by The Guardian and the BBC. Global said: ‘following the claims that have recently come to light, Tim Westwood has stepped down from his show until further notice.’
Westwood was also removed from two bank holiday weekend events that he had been due to appear at.
Three women have accused the hip-hop DJ of opportunistic and predatory sexual behaviour, while four others allege he groped them at events.
Most of the incidents are alleged to have taken place when Westwood worked at the BBC, although its director-general yesterday said no complaints were made to the corporation at the time.
Two women say they agreed to come to London to meet the DJ to discuss music as they were hoping to work in the industry. They accuse Westwood of picking them up from the train station in his car and driving them to his flat, where he forced himself on them. Westwood strongly denies the claims.
It is understood none of the women made formal complaints and there is no known current police investigation into the star.
Westwood joined Capital Xtra in 2014 after losing his job at BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, where he had worked from 1994 to 2013. BBC director-general Tim Davie described the testimony of the women as ‘powerful and appalling’. He called for anyone else with evidence to come forward but said he had seen ‘no evidence of complaints’ during Westwood’s time at the corporation.
He said: ‘I do think now we’re in a position where we’re very clear on culture, which is every complaint has to be taken seriously.
‘If something like this were raised or anything comes up, we investigate it fully. And I would hope we were doing that in that time as well. If people have evidence where things weren’t followed up, or they have concern in this area, bring it to us. We want to investigate it.’
All seven alleged victims are black and were aged in their late teens to early 20s at the time the incidents were said to have taken place between 1992 and 2017.
They came forward after anonymous allegations of inappropriate behaviour about Westwood started circulating on social media in June 2020. The DJ denied any wrongdoing at the time.
Students have accused Westwood of inappropriate behaviour at university freshers’ events. He was said to be heard shouting out to fans at one: ‘Girl in the front row with the black dress on, I will be f ****** you later.’ He allegedly told another girl: ‘Security have told me you need to wear a sports bra.’
Despite the claims, he has continued to tour universities and even performed at Norwich freshers’ week last autumn.
Westwood was due to appear at several events over the next month but the listings have disappeared from his website. A spokesman for the DJ said: ‘In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him, officially or unofficially. Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.’
‘Appalling testimony’