Aled’s as capable of being a sex pest as Mother Teresa...
BBC star’s family hit out
THE mother-in-law of Aled Jones has said the BBC host is ‘as capable of sexual harassment as Mother Teresa’.
The Songs of Praise star, 46, is offair while bosses investigate an allegation of inappropriate behaviour made by a female colleague.
It comes as it emerged the Corporation has allowed a DJ to stay on air despite being accused of an anti-semitic rant.
Jones, a father of two who has also presented Cash In The Attic and Escape To The Country, said he ‘strongly denies any inappropriate contact’, although he admitted his past actions may have been ‘juvenile’. But colleagues said yesterday that he always behaved in a way that was ‘totally above board’ and now his mother-in-law has leapt to his defence.
Elaine Fossett, 74, told MailOnline: ‘Aled is as much capable of sexual harassment as Mother Teresa.’
She said of the allegations: ‘It is utterly, utterly appalling. It is destroying my family’s life ... they are going through hell and most undeservedly so.’
The presenter is said to have sent messages and contacted the woman during the episode more than a decade ago, but it is not clear what the messages said.
A spokesman for Jones said that while the matter does not relate to any broadcast work, he had voluntarily agreed not to appear on the BBC while it is investigated. Even so, licence fee payers have accused the BBC on Twitter of being too heavy-handed.
One said: ‘Jimmy Savile [was] on the BBC for god knows how many years, with all his filthy behaviour, and respectable Aled Jones [is] taken off for some text of ten years ago? Give me strength!’
The Corporation was also accused of losing ‘its moral compass’ for allowing a radio presenter to remain on air after he was condemned for making anti-semitic remarks while it investigates Jones’s past behaviour.
Earlier this month, DJ Reggie Yates said on an independent podcast that he was glad that musicians are no longer managed by ‘random fat Jewish guys’. In a shocking rant, the 34-year-old said it was a good thing that artists are now managed by their friends and family, instead of handing rights over to ‘these d***heads’.
His comments were quickly condemned by listeners, who accused him of flagrant anti-semitism.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism blasted the DJ, saying: ‘Mr Yates directed abuse at Jewish talent agents because he believes that they are unappetising, alien and corporate ... For many, Mr Yates’ comments will evoke the ugly stereotype of Jews as untrustworthy and money-grabbing.’
Others called for the DJ to be axed from the broadcaster.
But instead of taking the presenter off-air, the Corporation was satisfied with a half-hearted apology, after Yates claimed his ‘flippant’ remarks ‘could have been interpreted’ as offensive.
Yates said he was ‘hugely apologetic’, adding that it ‘was not my intention to offend or reinforce stereotypes’.
‘They are going through hell’