Ashley Cain has spoken out after his BBC documentary series was axed due to previous 'unacceptable' social media posts. The organisation confirmed it has 'no plans' to air the series, despite it already being filmed.
BBC Axes Documentary Over Past Posts
The presenter was accused of using sexist and misogynistic language in historical social media posts. In a new Instagram post, he told fans he is not proud of his past comments and does not excuse or condone them. Saying the comments were from a version of himself who still needed to grow up, he explained that he had never tried to hide from his past.
Ashley wrote: 'I have always believed that accountability matters. We should all take responsibility for our actions, good or bad. But I also believe in growth, in learning from our mistakes, and in proving through our actions that the person we once were does not have to be the person we remain.'
Reflecting on Personal Growth
He described himself at that time as a young man who had watched his dream of professional football disappear through injury, feeling lost and frustrated. Reality television gave him a second chance but also put him in a world where he was rewarded for developing a provocative personality. He acknowledged: 'None of that excuses the things I said, but it is part of the truth of where I was and who I was becoming.'
Ashley thanked the women in his life, including his mother, for their support. He admitted he lacked maturity in the past but said he had learned lessons over the last decade, especially after becoming a father and losing his daughter Azaylia. 'When you sit beside your child and watch them fight for their life, everything that once seemed important suddenly becomes insignificant,' he wrote. 'The ego disappears. The image disappears. The noise disappears.'
Ongoing Abuse and Choosing Better
Despite dedicating his life to honouring his daughter's memory, he continued to receive abuse, including messages telling him to kill himself. He reflected: 'Pain can make you bitter, or it can make you better. I chose better.' He confessed that seeing his past brought up is 'difficult' but emphasised he cannot change what he 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.'
His ex-partner and Azaylia's mother, Safiyya Vorajee, commented: 'I've seen the journey, and I've seen how much life has changed you over the years Ash. I know you're not proud of the words you've spoken in the past, and I know they don't reflect the man you are today. None of us can change the past, but we can choose who we become because of it, and you're doing really well I'm proud of you.'
Investigation and BBC Response
His statement follows an investigation by The Guardian which reportedly found he had frequently used abusive and sexualised language to refer to women on X, formerly Twitter, including remarks such as 'sl*gs', 'sl*ts' and 'psychos'. According to the publication, in a 2014 post, he told a woman to 'go and choke on a c*** you sl**' — since deleted.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'The posts by Ashley Cain, albeit from many years ago, are completely unacceptable. The BBC has clear requirements around vetting and social media checks, which are undertaken by the production company. In this instance, the process clearly failed and we are investigating why. We are continuing to strengthen our processes to ensure everyone working for, and on behalf of, the BBC meets our values and standards. We have no plans to broadcast the new series of Into the Danger Zone, and no future projects with Ashley Cain.'
