DJ Tim Westwood accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women

Content warning: This article contains information relating to sexual misconduct.

DJ Tim Westwood has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women in a new joint report by The Guardian and BBC.

Seven women have shared personal accounts which outline the former BBC Radio 1 DJ’s alleged misuse of industry status and power to take advantage of them. Three women have accused the DJ of “opportunistic and predatory sexual behaviour”, while four others report that they were “groped by him at events”. 

The accounts shared by these women, who are all Black, date between 1992 and 2017.

Westwood has “strenuously” denied these allegations, with a spokesperson for the 64-year-old DJ stating that they are “completely false and denied in their entirety”. 

The seven women reportedly decided to share their accounts after a number of anonymous allegations of inappropriate behaviour about Westwood were circulated on social media in June 2020. Westwood denied those allegations at the time, describing them as “fabricated, false and without foundation”.

Two of the women allege that Westwood initiated unwanted sex after driving them to his London flat under the pretence of discussing their careers in the music industry. They were 19 and 20 respectively at the time of the alleged incidents in 2010 and 2000, while Westwood was 53 and in his 40s. 

Another woman alleges that when she was 17, and a member of a British R&B group, Westwood, who was in his 30s, invited her to “hang out” and have what she assumed would be a conversation about her career. While at a flat she believes was his, the woman alleges that Westwood “pulled down her trousers and underwear” and subjected her to unwanted oral sex.

Four other women have shared accounts of Westwood allegedly groping or touching them inappropriately while taking photos with him at music events. 

A new documentary, Tim Westwood: Abuse Of Power, will air at 9pm BST on BBC Three on 26th April, and is available to view now on iPlayer. 

Read the full report by The Guardian and BBC. 

Westwood joined the BBC in 1994, where he hosted the UK’s first national rap and hip-hop show. He remained at the station for almost 20 years. Since leaving the BBC in 2013, he has hosted a weekly Saturday night show on Capital FM’s Capital Xtra. 

Earlier this month, the new Face the Music Now Foundation launched to provide support for survivors of sexual abuse in the music industry.

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, the following organisations may be able to provide help and advice:

In the UK 

Victim Support

Provides help and information for anyone who has been affected by a crime, including a violent or sexual assault, or is wary about involving the police.

Helpline: 0845 30 30 900 (Seven days a week)

Website: www.victimsupport.org

The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre

Support and information for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused, however long ago and whatever the circumstances.

Helpline: 0845 1221 331 (Seven days a week)

Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk

In North America

RAINN

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization

The National Sexual Assault Hotline (24 hours, seven days a week):800.656.HOPE (4673), online.rainn.org, rainn.org/es

Website: https://www.rainn.org/

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. 

Directory of organizations: https://www.nsvrc.org/organizations

Website: https://www.nsvrc.org/