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Tim Westwood has stepped down from his Capital Xtra show after nine years following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
The 64-year-old was yesterday accused of initiating unwanted sex by three women, while four others allege he groped their bottoms or breasts at events, reports the Guardian and BBC.
The earliest alleged incident dates back to 1992, while the most recent came in 2017.
Three of the women, aged 17, 19 and 20 at the time, describe a pattern of alleged ‘opportunist and predatory sexual behaviour’ after agreeing to meet with him.
The DJ, who is not married, has strenuously denied all claims. A spokesperson for Westwood told MailOnline: ‘Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour.’
Westwood became a household name after hosting shows on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra for 19 years, and had presented a weekly hip hop show on Capital Xtra.
A spokesperson for Global, the firm which owns Capital Xtra, told MailOnline: ‘Following the claims that have recently come to light, Tim Westwood has stepped down from his show until further notice.’
Tim Westwood has stepped down from his Capital Xtra show after nine years following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct
It is claimed the first alleged incident took place in 1992, while the most recent came in 2017.
One woman who claims her breast was grabbed by the veteran DJ in 2000 said she was left feeling ‘cold and dirty’ after the alleged incident.
Three others, aged 17, 19 and 20 at the time, describe a pattern of alleged ‘opportunist and predatory sexual behaviour’ after agreeing to meet with him.
Two of them, who had aspirations of working within the music industry, claim they agreed to meet Westwood in London to discuss music, before he ‘initiated unwanted and unexpected sex’ that left them feeling ‘completely powerless’ and ‘scared’.
Bank Holiday events in Birmingham and Bognor Regis that the veteran hip hop DJ had been due to appear at were all cancelled and women’s safety campaign groups had all hit out at Westwood in the wake of the allegations.
Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition told MailOnline: ‘We stand in solidarity with the Black women who have come forward with their story of sexual violence from Tim Westwood.
‘This is a horrifying abuse of power in an industry that is rife with racism, sexism and misogyny.
‘No survivor should have to fear reporting sexual violence because they may not be believed.
‘But the reality is that this is a daily experience for Black women and all who experience racial discrimination in a justice system that is so badly stacked against survivors.
‘This goes beyond the police and justice system, through to the media, music industry and all institutions where we see no accountability because of cultures of silence and impunity.
‘We will not accept this, because this is not the way it has to be. We demand justice and change.’
Source: dailymail
