Ashley Cain shared a lengthy social media post after actions from his past left his BBC documentary series on the shelf after the organisation axed it
Ashley Cain has spoken out after it was revealed his BBC documentary had been axed due to previous “unacceptable” social media posts. The organisation confirmed it has “no plans” to air the series, despite being filmed already.
It comes after the presenter was accused of using sexist and misogynistic language in historical social media posts. In a new post, he told fans that he is not proud of his past comments, and doesn’t excuse or condone it.
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. In a lengthy Instagram message, he said: “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.
“At that time in my life, I was a young man who had watched his dream of professional football disappear through injury. I felt lost, frustrated and unsure of where my life was heading. Reality television gave me a second chance, but it also put me into a world that I didn’t know, one in which I was rewarded for developing a provocative personality. 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 went on to thank the women in his life, including his mum, who helped to support him throughout his life. He revealed he noticed he lacked maturity in the past, but said he had to learn lessons – and has done.
“The reality is that growth doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through experience. Through mistakes. Through hardship. Through being forced to look in the mirror and ask yourself whether you’re willing to become better,” he continued.
“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.”
He explained how losing daughter Azaylia changed him forever. “When you sit beside your child and watch them fight for their life, everything that once seemed important suddenly becomes insignificant,” he penned. “The ego disappears. The image disappears. The noise disappears.”
Ashley said perspective and purpose was what remained, claiming it has seen him dedicate his life to trying to honour his little one’s memory and legacy.
But he said throughout it all he has continued to receive abuse. He wrote: “While my family was fighting for our daughter’s life, and later grieving her loss, there were still people sending messages telling me to kill myself.
“But life taught me something through that pain. Pain can make you bitter, or it can make you better. I chose better. Not because I am special. Not because I deserve credit. But because I knew that carrying anger, resentment and hatred would only create more suffering.”
Ashley confessed that because he is trying to better himself, seeing the past brought up is “difficult”. He said: “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.”
He finished his post by saying he has learned lessons throughout life and said he won’t pretend about his past. He then thanked those who reached out to support him.
Among those sending positive messages in the comments section was his ex, and Azaylia’s mum, Safiyya Vorajee. She said: “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.
“I’ve seen the father you’ve been to our beautiful daughter, the love you’ve carried for her, and the way you’ve dedicated so much of your life to honouring her legacy and helping others because of it.
“None of us can change the past, but we can choose who we become because of it, and your doing really well I’m proud of you. Sending you love and strength.”
His words come after an investigation led by The Guardian reportedly found that he had frequently used abusive and sexualised language to refer to women on X, formerly Twitter. This included remarks such as “sl*gs”, “sl*ts” and “psychos”.
According to the publication, before his stint at the BBC, he is thought to have told a woman to “go and choke on a c*** you sl**,” in a post from 2014. The post has since been deleted.
The BBC responded to the allegations, saying: “The posts by Ashley Cain, albeit from many years ago, are completely unacceptable.” The spokesperson for the broadcaster continued. “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.”
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