Nicky Campbell, a BBC broadcaster, acknowledged to having a “distressing weekend” after being “falsely tagged” as the presenter accused of paying a youngster for sexually graphic photos.
A corporate broadcaster who has not been publicly recognised has been accused of paying a minor more than £35,000 for pornographic images taken when the victim was 17 years old.
According to a spokeswoman, the BBC initially became “informed of a complaint” in May, before further claims “of a different type” were given to them on Thursday, July 6.
‘In addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols,’ they stated, adding that a ‘male member of staff has been suspended’.
Due to social media speculations, a number of high-profile celebrities have been obliged to disavow any participation.
‘Obviously thoughts with the alleged victim and family,’ Campbell, 62, said as he introduced his BBC Radio 5 Live broadcast on Monday.
‘So a bit of perspective here, worse things happen at sea as they say, but it was a distressing weekend, I can’t deny it, for me and others falsely named.’
He continued: ‘Today I am having further conversations with the police in terms of malicious communication and with lawyers in terms of defamation.’
Following his admission, a caller said she was “so angry” that Campbell and other television stars had to come forward and clean their identities.
Campbell responded: ‘I’m all good, Jeremy (Vine) and also others involved as well, Rylan (Clark) and also Gary (Lineker), yeah it’s uncomfortable but as I said earlier worse things happen at sea.
‘We’re big boys.’
Clark, who formerly presented Strictly’s It Takes Two, tweeted: ‘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,’ he added, referring to Will Smith’s infamous line from last year’s Oscars, when he told host Chris Rock to keep wife Jada Smith’s name ‘out of his f***ing mouth’.
Source My Celebrity Life.
