Rylan Clark has spoken about the homophobic attack that left him with a fractured skull, in his new documentary 'Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me'. The former X Factor star candidly discusses his experiences growing up as a gay football fan and the abuse he faced.
In the documentary, Rylan recalls being attacked as a young West Ham supporter. He described how a group of boys threw him from a platform, kicked and stamped on his head, causing his skull to fracture in several places. He remembers waking up in an ambulance on the way to hospital, unaware of what had happened.
Despite the severity of the attack, Rylan said he is "almost glad" it happened, as it taught him never to make others feel badly. He also explained how homophobic attitudes in football made him feel uncomfortable attending matches, especially as his profile grew.
The documentary, released to coincide with LGBT History Month, sees Rylan speak with former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, ex-England star Rio Ferdinand and Arsenal women's player Jen Beattie. It aims to highlight that football is for everyone, regardless of sexuality, and to encourage more inclusive attitudes within the sport.
'Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me' is available to stream on Discovery+.
