BBC Presenter Taken Off Air

On May 19, the family protested to the BBC about the practise and pleaded with the station to order the presenter to "stop sending the cash," according to The Sun.

The person and the teen, who was allegedly 17 when the payments started, were not named.

According to the BBC, it treats "any allegations very seriously." According to reports, the celebrity is not currently slated to appear on television.

As rumours regarding the presenter's identity spread, two well-known people came forward to deny any involvement.

TV host Rylan Clark wrote on Twitter: "I'm not sure why my name is circulating about, but regarding that article in the sun—that ain't me, sweetheart. I'm now filming a show for the BBC in Italy, so please stop using my name.

Jeremy Vine, a radio personality, also commented on the news shortly after, telling his Twitter followers: "It certainly ain't me."

He wrote, "Just to say I'm very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday — whoever the "BBC Presenter" in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain't me." in response to more unfounded rumours.

Presenter of Match of the Day Gary Lineker did not expressly refer to the claims, however he did write on Twitter: “Hate to disappoint the haters but it’s not me.

In response to the charges, the victim's mother told The Sun that her now-20-year-old son had transformed in just three years from a "happy-go-lucky youngster to a ghost-like crack addict."

"I feel sick when I see him on television," she claimed.

"I hold this BBC employee responsible for ruining my child's life.

Giving the cash for crack cocaine that could kill my child while taking advantage of his or her naivety.

A BBC representative responded to the news by saying, "We regard all allegations very seriously, and we have mechanisms in place to deal with them promptly.

As part of that, if we learn something that necessitates more investigation or analysis, we will take appropriate action.

"That includes making a sincere effort to speak with folks who have contacted us in order to get more information and a better understanding of the circumstance.

"While it may hinder our ability to move things along if we receive no response to our efforts or no future contact, this does not mean that we will cease making inquiries.

"If at any time new information surfaces or is made available, including through newspapers, this will be handled appropriately, in accordance with internal processes," the statement reads.

According to Katie Razzall, the BBC's own culture editor, the BBC's statement seems to imply that its first investigation may have been complicated by a lack of reaction from the victim's family.

BBC Presenter Taken Off Air