Television chef James Martin has received overwhelming support from his fans after he offered a heartfelt apology for a leaked audio recording in which he vented his frustration at his production crew over damage to his driveway back in 2018.

In the leaked audio, James was heard expressing his anger and using strong language towards his staff. However, upon releasing a public statement of apology on Thursday, his loyal fans rushed to his defense, assuring him that he had “no reason to apologize.” They empathized with the media personality, considering the challenging circumstances he was facing at the time, including a facial cancer diagnosis, the loss of his grandparents, and a distressing home invasion.

In his statement, James expressed remorse to the crew involved in the incident and revealed that he always aimed to keep his private life private. The audio, secretly recorded in January 2018, had recently been made public by a former member of the production team, prompting him to address the situation.

James recounted the difficulties he endured in late 2017, with the passing of his last living grandparent, whom he couldn’t attend the funeral of due to work commitments. Adding to his distress, his home was later burgled by a group of masked men while his partner Louise was alone at home, and he was away for work. The chef shared his devastation at not being able to support her during that frightening experience.

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Understanding and compassionate, fans flooded social media with messages of comfort and encouragement for James. One supporter reminded him that everyone faces stress in their lives, and as a public figure, his struggles might be aired to the world. Nevertheless, they praised his culinary skills and vowed to remain devoted fans.