A concert headlined by Tim Westwood has been postponed indefinitely after the former Radio 1 DJ reportedly told female students to "keep your pussies tight and clean" during a concert he was performing at.
Westwood was billed as the main act of the Exeter Respect concert held at Exeter University, an annual celebration of diversity and equality. But following accusations of sexism against the DJ, the concert has been shelved, student paper Exposé reports.
The 56-year-old was performing to students at Leicester University earlier this month, when he allegedly made a number of offensive comments to the crowd. According to student paper The Tab, he said: "Girl in the front row in the black dress, I’ll be f***ing you tonight." He then told another student: "Security have told me you need to wear a sports bra."
Dr Suaad Genem-George, spokesperson for Exeter Respect, said: "Exeter Respect have a zero tolerance policy on all forms of prejudice – both implicit and explicit – and we explicitly condemn any form of sexism.
"If the comments that have allegedly been made are true, then we condemn them clearly and firmly as inappropriate."
Chris Rootkin, vice president of welfare and community at Exeter University, said “I am pleased to see that the allegations of inappropriate behaviour and remarks made by Tim Westwood are being investigated by the promoter of the Exeter Respect Concert.
"I and the Students’ Guild take matters of respect, diversity and dignity very seriously and I fully support any action that seeks to promote these."
A spokesperson for Westwood said: "Tim was DJing from midnight to 4am for a University crowd aged over 18. The music he plays is hip-hop and reggae which includes, at times, explicit lyrics and Tim introduces some tracks by quoting their lyrics to the crowd. Tim apologises for any offence that may have been caused.”
A source close to Tim Westwood said: "Westwood has been gigging for years playing hip-hop and reggae, so people going to his gigs know what music to expect and quoting lyrics is all part of the show. He is mortified that people would think he was being offensive as it is all part of the late night act."