And not for singing along to the Kanye West song, it’s claimed…

MasterChef presenter John Torode wasn’t sacked from the BBC show for singing a racist slur used in the Kanye West track Gold Digger, it’s now been claimed.

According to reports earlier this week, the 59-year-old celebrity chef and TV presenter repeated lyrics from the Kanye West track, which contain the highly offensive word N-word slur. It’s alleged it was said at an after-work ­series wrap party six or seven years ago.

John is then alleged to have used the word again while talking to a friend on the BBC show’s production team. However, BBC News now reports that the allegation that actually got him fired relates to his alleged use of the word the previous year.

Last week, the ex-MasterChef presenter John Torode was alleged to have used the N-word twice (Credit: BBC iPlayer)

John Torode sacked amid racism allegations

John was axed this week following a probe by the BBC and production company Banijay. It came as part of the investigation into his ­ MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace.

John denies ever using the N-word. He is said to be “devastated” by the accusations.

John Torode racist slur – new allegations revealed

Earlier this week, it was reported that John twice sung the racial slur that features in the Kanye West track Gold Digger. On the alleged second occasion, John Torode used the slur as an “example” while speaking to a friend. He “apologised afterwards”.

The person who raised the complaint is said to have overheard the conversation.

However, overnight, BBC News published a new report. It claims that John wasn’t fired over that alleged incident, but one that took place the previous year. As a result, it’s now been claimed that the widely reported incident from earlier this week was not the complaint upheld by the report.

Instead, this is said to relate to another incident a year earlier. Then, John allegedly used the same word on set after filming an episode of MasterChef. And, it’s claimed, it was directed at a member of staff.

The news site added that the upheld allegation of racist language was one of nine complaints made against Torode in the report. It’s claimed allegations that were not upheld related to allegations of abusive language towards junior production staff and sexual language.

ED! has contacted reps for comment.

John Torode is said to have ‘really been struggling’ (Credit: BBC iPlayer)

‘The clean version of the song is the only one he knows’

Meanwhile, a source is reported to have told the tabloid John wasn’t familiar with the uncensored version of the Kanye hit.

They are quoted as saying: “One of the allegations is that he said the N-word while repeating Kanye’s Gold Digger song during a gathering with his colleagues when filming had ended. John is adamant he would never have used the N-word and only knows the radio version of the song which says ‘Now I ain’t sayin’ she a gold digger, but she ain’t messin’ with no broke, broke’. The clean version of the song is the only one he knows.”

The source added: “John has said he cannot recall the conversation and he would never use the N-word. He knows it is unacceptable and says he would never have said it.”

They reportedly added that John only found out about the issue a few weeks ago. It is said to have “hit him like a ton of bricks”.

Will Masterchef return to TV?

A source reportedly added John is being supported by his wife Lisa Faulkner, as well as friends. They are said to be “keeping him close because he has really been struggling.”

They are said to have added: “John abhors this kind of language and does not recall ever reciting a racist slur in a lyric, or directing one to someone he considered a friend at work. He adored MasterChef. It was a huge part of his life. To have it all ending like this is awful.”

John’s former co-host Gregg Wallace, 60, was confirmed to have been sacked earlier this month. That followed a six-month inquiry into alleged misconduct which upheld 45 out of 83 allegations.

Despite the show’s longtime presenters being sacked, it is claimed the final series of MasterChef will still air “once the dust has settled”.