Ronan Keating has publicly supported TV presenter Rylan Clark, days after Clark sparked controversy with his comments on immigration during an episode of ITV's This Morning. The former Boyzone singer dedicated a song to Clark while performing at Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford on Saturday.
Addressing the crowd, Keating said: “This is a big gig tonight, a nice vibe, we’re in Chelmsford - also we’re in the home of Rylan. I thought I might do something nice for Rylan tonight, so I wrote a song, especially for you all.” He then performed his hit When You Say Nothing At All in dedication to Clark.
Clark's controversial remarks came during the newspaper segment of This Morning on 4 September, where he discussed immigration and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's plan for mass deportations. Clark said he found it “absolutely insane” that asylum seekers were being given “free goodies” such as iPads and hotel accommodation, while homeless veterans struggled. He also credited immigrants for saving his mother's life and paying into the tax system.
The comments prompted 576 complaints to media regulator Ofcom and widespread backlash on social media. When asked about Keating's tribute, Clark told MailOnline: “I’m not going to talk about anything today,” before adding, “I love Ronan, he’s a really good friend of mine.”
