Entertainment
Top DJ ‘accused of sexual misconduct by seven women’
DJ Tim Westwood has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple Black women, according to reports.
The Guardian and BBC report three women have claimed they were victims of opportunistic and predatory sexual behaviour, while four others have alleged they were groped by him at events.
Westwood, 64, has denied all the allegations with a spokesperson telling both publications they are completely false and denied in their entirety.
‘Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour,’ a statement from a representative said.
‘In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially. Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.’
The women, who are all Black, were in their late teens or early 20s when they claim the incidents took place, with the earliest incident reportedly occurring in 1992.
The most recent is said to have happened in 2017.
They claim Westwood abused his position in the music industry to exploit them.
The women are said to have decided to come forward with their stories after anonymous allegations of inappropriate behaviour about Westwood circulated on social media in June 2020.
They share their stories in a BBC Three documentary, Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power, which is due to air on BBC Three tonight.
One victim, who was 19 at the time of Westwood’s alleged behaviour, said the DJ exposed himself in front of her.
‘I didn’t actually see him undo his trousers,’ she told the BBC and the Guardian. ‘What alerted me to the fact that he was exposing himself was the fact that he actually tapped me to turn around to look.’
She went on to claim she was the victim of a second episode of opportunistic and predatory sexual behaviour.
The woman added that Westwood returned to the room naked after making himself a drink.
‘That’s when I noticed that he’s got a condom and he’s removed it [from the packet] and started putting it on,’ she said.
‘I remember him throwing it down. I remember the fact that it was yellow. Like, I remember that very vividly because I remember that was kind of when my brain also started to shut down.’
She alleged Westwood initiated sex and that she was ‘frozen’.
Another woman, who was 20 at the time of her ordeal, was allegedly invited to do work experience with Westwood.
She travelled to London to meet him and claims that he ‘soon began touching her leg and face while he was driving’.
Westwood started to drive erratically as the woman tried to bat his hand away, and she a police officer on a motorbike pulled alongside the vehicle knocked on the passenger window.
He was told to keep his eyes on the road.
Although sleeping arrangements hadn’t been discussed, the woman expected to stay at hotel for her work experience.
However, she claims Westwood drove her to what she believed to be his flat. She claims he ‘sat next to her and tried to kiss her neck and remove items of her clothing’.
‘I didn’t give him any kind of come-on. There was no flirtation,’ she told the publications, adding that he initiated sex. ‘I’m in London alone with this man. Now if I try to get out of this, who’s to say how he’s going to react. So I just submit to it.’
‘Someone taking advantage of my naivety and lack of confidence isn’t something that I should have to carry with shame,’ one woman told the publications.
None of the women had reported their interactions to the police and all have asked to remain anonymous.
In June 2020, Westwood denied he had behaved ‘inappropriately with student fans’ after allegations emerged.
Releasing a statement to MailOnline, he said: ‘I can categorically say that I have never had an inappropriate relationship with anyone under the age of 18.
‘I am aware of attempts by anonymous sources to make fabricated allegations online. I can confirm that such allegations are false and without any foundation.
Westwood joined BBC Radio 1 in 1994 to host the first national rap show in the UK.
At the BBC, he also hosted the weekday drive time show for 1Xtra from September 2009 until he was replaced by Charlie Sloth in September 2012.
After leaving the drive time show, Westwood continued his Saturday night Rap Show until it was announced he was leaving the BBC after 20 years. He departed in September 2013.
Following his exit from the corporation, Westwood rejoined Capital FM on their sister station, Capital Xtra.
Westwood also presented the MTV UK car makeover show Pimp My Ride UK, which ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2007.
Source: metro.co.uk
Entertainment
Stonebwoy joins American recording artiste Mashanda Faust and Atlanta-based musical group
Ghanaian dancehall and Afrobeats artiste Stonebwoy has joined American recording artiste Mashanda Faust and Atlanta-based musical group Hero The Band on “Wrong Toes”, a song featured on the official soundtrack of the upcoming action comedy film Boyz Trip.
The collaboration brings together musical talents from Ghana and the United States, offering another opportunity to showcase Ghanaian music to international audiences through cinema.
The film, scheduled for worldwide theatrical release in 2027, is set in Cape Town, South Africa, and combines action, comedy and African cultural influences.
According to information released by KeyScott Entertainment, the production company behind the project, the official music video for “Wrong Toes” was filmed at Cape Town Film Studios in South Africa, under the creative direction of Warren Gray, an award-winning creative director.
The song was written by Alan Key and Faten El Sayed, with Key originating the concept and Kyle Scott overseeing its creative development and execution alongside Faust.
Stonebwoy, known for his blend of Afrobeats, reggae and dancehall, contributes his distinctive sound to the international production, which seeks to connect audiences across Africa, North America, Europe and Australia.
The song forms part of a collection of original music being developed for the film’s soundtrack through KeyScott Entertainment’s music division, which focuses on original film music, music publishing, artist development and international collaborations.
Boyz Trip stars Desi Banks, Rome Flynn, Algee Smith and South African actor Siv Ngesi.
The story follows four longtime college friends who reunite for an international vacation in Cape Town, only for their getaway to descend into a chaotic adventure after they become entangled in the dangerous world of a notorious criminal known as Le Serpent.
The film is executive produced by Alan Key and Kyle Scott, co-founders of KeyScott Entertainment, an international film, and television and music Production Company headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.
Scott also directs the film, with Autumn Bailey-Ford as lead producer and Sarsha Venord and Jamez T. serving as co-producers. Ama K. Abebrese, Lya Castillo and Shayla Hill are associate producers.
The production is planning international premiere events in Cape Town, Atlanta, London, Los Angeles and Brisbane, with further details on its theatrical distribution, soundtrack releases and promotional activities expected ahead of its 2027 launch.
Stonebwoy’s involvement in the project adds a Ghanaian musical dimension to the production’s international appeal, placing his sound alongside American performers in a film that draws on African locations and cultural influences.
By spectator reporter
The National Film Authority (NFA) on Saturday launched the Cinema Train Initiative to improve access to cinema, strengthen film exhibition and rebuild the culture of cinema-going in Ghana.
The initiative, expected to provide a common platform for film producers, distributors, exhibitors and audiences to connect and create a sustainable market for Ghanaian films.
The Executive Secretary of the NFA, Kafui Danku Pitcher who announced the initiative at the launch, said limited access to cinema facilities and exhibition opportunities remained a major challenge confronting the country’s film industry.
She noted that while filmmakers invested considerable time and resources in producing films, many of their works struggled to reach audiences because of the limited platforms available for exhibition.
” We cannot build a sustainable film industry if we produce films without creating pathways for people to watch them,” she said.
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She explained that the initiative went beyond screening films, describing it as an effort to build an ecosystem where producers could showcase their works, distributors could connect content to markets and exhibitors could attract audiences.
She further urged Ghanaians to support the initiative by purchasing tickets, watching local films and encouraging others to patronise Ghanaian cinema.
The Executive Secretary called on corporate organisations and potential sponsors to invest in the initiative, saying their support would help expand cinema access, strengthen the creative economy and connect brands with audiences across the country.
He stressed that the success of the initiative required a collective commitment from all stakeholders, adding that the NFA was prepared to facilitate the partnerships necessary to advance the vision.
NFA board board Chairman, Mr Ivan Quashigah further demonstrated the Authority’s commitment by announcing plans to purchase tickets through the platform to support films currently available for screening.
He added that the platform seeks to bring key groups in the film industry onto one track:producers, distributors exhibitors and audiences.
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