Television presenter Ashley Cain has publicly addressed historical social media posts containing sexist and misogynistic language, stating he is “not proud” of the comments.
The admission follows reports that led the BBC to cancel the second series of his documentary, Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone, and sever future projects with him.
The former Coventry City footballer, 35, had been due to front a new series exploring issues affecting young men. However, allegations surfaced that he frequently used abusive and sexualised terms, including “slags”, “sluts”, and “psychos”, in past social media interactions.
The BBC confirmed it had “no plans” to broadcast the new series and “no future projects” with Cain, describing the posts as “completely unacceptable” and acknowledging that social media vetting systems “clearly failed”.
Breaking his silence on Instagram, Cain posted a multi-page statement acknowledging the controversy. He wrote: “You may have seen a recent article concerning language I used many years ago that I am not proud of. I don’t deny it. I don’t excuse it. And I certainly don’t condone it.”
He attributed the comments to a younger version of himself from over a decade ago, who was “lost” and “frustrated” after an injury ended his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Cain, also known for appearances on Ex On The Beach and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, admitted he “lacked maturity, perspective and understanding” at the time.
Cain explained that significant life events have since reshaped his outlook. “Over the last decade, life has taught me lessons that no amount of fame, success or public opinion ever could. I became a father. I experienced a love so powerful that it changed every part of me. Then I experienced a pain so devastating that it nearly destroyed me.”
His daughter, Azaylia, tragically died of leukaemia in April 2021 at eight months old.
He concluded: “Losing my daughter changed me forever. Since then, I have dedicated my life to trying to honour my daughter’s legacy and help others wherever I can. I cannot change what I said over a decade ago. What I can do is take responsibility for it. What I can do is continue striving every day to be a good father, a good human and a positive force in the lives of others.”
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Reports by The Guardian also indicated that Cain had made jokes about hitting women in tweets. His X account appears to have since been removed from the platform.