I am not what you would call a ‘people person’. I struggle in various social situations; I have lost count of the number of times I said ‘the wrong thing’, talked over others or interrupted because a contribution to the conversation popped into my head and needed to be shared immediately. I struggle to make friends and in unfamiliar environments. I often come across as aloof or abrupt, even when I don’t mean to be.
For decades, I just put these challenges down to being a ‘bit weird’ but in 2021 I received formal confirmation that I have an Autistic Spectrum Condition. As understanding of autism increases, many people in middle age or older are receiving diagnoses which help them to make sense of lifetimes of sensory issues, social difficulties and communication problems. This is undoubtedly a Good Thing. Knowing that I have an atypical brain helps me to look after myself, both physically and emotionally.
My diagnosis is not a ‘Get Out of Jail Free Card’. Being autistic does not bestow me with the right to behave obnoxiously or inappropriately without consequences. But MailOnline and The Telegraph seem to think that being neurodivergent is some sort of justification for the deluge of complaints made against MasterChef host Gregg Wallace. In fact, The Telegraph’s headline could hardly be more lurid:
On 6 December, the paper quoted various ‘sources’ and ‘friends’ who are apparently all convinced that Mr Wallace is autistic. Here’s an example:
“We think Gregg has an undiagnosed condition, probably autism. If you look at symptoms of autism, he seems to fit those. The symptoms fit him. He tells inappropriate jokes, but it’s never been malicious. He just doesn’t understand that sometimes the jokes he tells just aren’t funny.”
I have a little bit of sympathy for this argument, because humour is a minefield at the best of times, so it is especially difficult to judge for autistics. Over 20 years ago, I took part in a Secret Santa within our department at work. I bought a female colleague a small gift which I thought was a humorous nod to her main hobby; my colleague interpreted the present in a quite different way and thought there was an adult subtext to it, not that I realised this until our manager explained it. I was nearly as mortified as she was, apologised immediately and profusely and learned from my mistake. Whenever I took part in subsequent Secret Santas, I always bought something I thought the recipient would want ignoring the unwritten rule that such gifts are supposed to be ‘jokey’.
There’s a world of difference between a misconstrued gift causing offence and telling a work colleague that you don’t wear underwear, or taking an unusually deep interest in a colleague’s love life. Behaviour like that can’t just be explained away by saying “but I’m autistic”, especially if the first time you talk about your neurotype is when your career is on the line. So where has the suggestion that Gregg Wallace is neurodivergent come from? Ah, yes. The Telegraph:
“[Friends] point out that Wallace’s four-year-old son has been diagnosed with autism. Studies have shown a majority of autism cases are linked to inherited genes and tend to run in families. Sources suggested Wallace had not been keen to get an official diagnosis due to a sense of guilt at having possibly passed autism to his son, who is also non-verbal.”
Of course, the paper knew about Wallace’s autistic son, because they ran a piece about his ‘Perfect Saturday’ in February 2024. I’d like to share an extract from that article now:
1.30pm
I like to spend time with my four-year-old son, Sid, who’s non-verbal autistic. He used to be in his own world but he’s starting to seek company and show eye contact. We’ll potter in the garden and play with our two dogs, Wally and Bella.
I’m a much better father now I’m older, although another child isn’t something that I would have chosen at my age. I was always very honest with Anna, but it’s what she wanted and I love her. I just requested two things – that we had help in the house (so her mum moved in), and secondly that we had at least one week a year when we holidayed just the two of us.
3pm
I’m an amateur historian. I spend two hours by myself in my home office playing Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia, set in 878 AD. I prefer turn-based strategy computer games to fast ones that require reflex.
My own son is pre-verbal, but picking up new words and sounds all the time because we’re present in his life and engage with all his communication methods. If I only spent 90 minutes with our boy on a Saturday then immediately demanded two hours of alone time to play computer games, I’m pretty sure my wife’s second word would be ‘off’.
I make no comment about whether or not Gregg Wallace is autistic, because it isn’t relevant. The stream of allegations made about his behaviour suggest a pattern of pre-meditated behaviour unrelated to his neurotype. Besides, it’s possible to be autistic and a deeply unpleasant person at the same time.
In any case, the media is often too quick to flag up neurodivergence as an ‘aggravating factor’ when reporting on crime. On 2 February, the BBC said of Brianna Ghey’s killers that:
“Jurors were told Ratcliffe had “gradually stopped speaking” to anyone apart from his mother following his arrest, and had been diagnosed with selective mutism and autism spectrum disorder. Jenkinson had traits of autism and ADHD.”
OK, but how are these ‘traits’ relevant to the case? Studies show that autistic people are far more likely to be victims of violent crime or sexual misconduct than the perpetrators, so why does the media flag up the rare cases which involve neurodivergent people? All that does is perpetuate stereotypes and harm the vast majority of folk who are simultaneously neurospicy and law-abiding.
The time has come for wealthy, middle-aged white blokes to stop shouting ‘Sorry! It’s the ‘tism!’ when they get called out for abhorrent behaviour. While we’re at it, could the media up its game? The sensationalist headline and unattributed quotes in The Telegraph aren’t going to help Gregg Wallace salvage his reputation, nor will they provide comfort or closure to the complainants. But there’s every chance they will eventually cause great anguish to young Sid when he’s older and there’s no excuse for that.