Ashley Cain, the TV presenter and former footballer, has publicly acknowledged using sexist and misogynistic language in historical social media posts, stating he is "not proud" of his past behaviour. The 35-year-old, who once played for Coventry City, issued a multi-page statement on Instagram after The Guardian reported on his use of abusive terms such as "slags", "sluts", and "psychos".
Cain Takes Responsibility
In his statement, Cain said: "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 myself who still had a lot of growing up to do" and emphasised his belief in accountability and personal growth.
Cain, known for appearing on Ex On The Beach and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, explained that at the time of the posts, he felt "lost" and "frustrated" after his football career ended due to injury. "I lacked maturity, perspective and understanding," he wrote, adding that "like many young men, I had lessons to learn, and life made sure I learned them."
BBC Drops Documentary Series
The controversy has led the BBC to decide not to broadcast the second series of his documentary, Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone, which had already been filmed. The BBC described the posts as "completely unacceptable" and acknowledged that social media vetting systems "clearly failed". A spokesperson said there are "no plans" to air the new series and "no future projects" with Cain.
According to The Guardian, Cain also made jokes about hitting women in tweets. His X account has since been removed from the platform.
Personal Tragedy and Growth
Cain referenced the profound impact of his daughter Azaylia's death from leukaemia in April 2021 at just eight months old. "Losing my daughter changed me forever," he said. "Since then, I have dedicated my life to trying to honour my daughter's legacy and help others wherever I can." He concluded: "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."
