DJ Tim Westwood "rejects all allegations of wrongdoing" following sexual misconduct claims

Tim Westwood "strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing," following reports that the English DJ and radio presenter has been accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by several women.

The statement, which was released by a representative to the PA news agency, noted that: "Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour."

"In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially," the statement continued.

The allegations – brought to light in a joint investigation by the BBC and The Guardian – were the focus of a documentary, Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power, which aired on BBC Three last night, April 26.

According to the description on the BBC's website, in the "explosive documentary, six women speak out about their experiences for the first time, claiming he misused his powerful position in the music industry to take advantage of them. The earliest alleged incident took place in 1992, the most recent in 2017. All of the women are black."

"Three of the women have accused Westwood of opportunistic and predatory sexual behaviour when they met him to discuss their music or were invited to London to do work experience with him at the BBC," the description reads. "They were 17, 19 and 20 at the time.

"Another three women in their late teens or early twenties met Westwood at club nights when he DJ’d. The women, who have never spoken, say that as they posed for a photo with the DJ he put his hand inside their top, down their shorts or up their skirt, leaving them shocked and shaken."

Westwood – the son of Bill Westwood, a former Anglican Bishop of Peterborough – presented BBC Radio 1's Rap Show for nearly 20 years. After leaving the BBC in 2013, he began presenting on Capital Xtra. He also hosted Pimp My Ride UK, which ran from 2005 to 2007.

In 1999, Tim Westwood was injured in a drive-by shooting in South London.

In response to the allegations of sexual misconduct, a spokesperson for the BBC also issued a statement: "The BBC is against all forms of inappropriate behaviour and we are shocked to hear of these allegations. The BBC has strict codes of conduct for all those engaged by the BBC, including on-air presenters."

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre National Helpline: 1 800 77 8888
Women's Aid 24 hour National Freephone Helpline: 1800 341 900