Warning: Explicit Language Content
Ashley Cain has expressed that he is "not proud" of sexist and misogynistic language he used on social media over a decade ago, following the resurfacing of his explicit comments by a newspaper.
The BBC decided to cancel Cain's upcoming documentary series after reports revealed he had frequently used abusive and sexualised terms to refer to women.
In an Instagram 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. The truth is, these comments were made over a decade ago by a younger version of myself who still had a lot of growing up to do."
Cain explained that at the time of the original posts on his now-deleted X account, his ambition to become a professional footballer had ended due to injury.
"Reality TV gave me a second chance," he continued, "but it also put me into a world I didn't know, one in which I was rewarded for developing a provocative personality."
The second series of BBC Three's Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone was commissioned and filmed earlier this year but had not yet been scheduled for broadcast. Last week, the BBC confirmed it has "no future projects" planned with Cain.
According to tweets first reported by and reviewed by , Cain used derogatory terms such as "slags," "bitches," "sluts," and "psychos" to describe women, and made jokes about hitting women.
Cain, known for appearances on MTV's Ex on the Beach and BBC's Go Hard or Go Home, faced significant backlash after the resurfacing of these posts.
In a detailed Instagram post published on Monday, Cain 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."
The former Coventry City footballer reflected that losing his career due to injury left him feeling "lost, frustrated and unsure of where my life was heading."
He also highlighted the influence of the women who raised him, including his mother, aunt, grandmother, and sister.
"Looking back now, I can see many moments in my younger years where I lacked maturity, perspective and understanding. Like many young men, I had lessons to learn, and life made sure I learned them."
Cain also addressed the impact of the death of his baby daughter from cancer in 2021, stating it had "changed me forever."
"I have dedicated my life to trying to honour my daughter's legacy and help others wherever I can. To support children and families facing childhood cancer."
He added:
"The reason I am able to connect with people who are struggling, particularly young men, is not because I have lived a perfect life.
"It's because I haven't. I've made mistakes. I've experienced loss. I've faced consequences. I've learned lessons the hard way.
"And through all of it, I've learned that real growth isn't about pretending your past never happened.
"It's about owning it, learning from it and becoming better because of it."
Cain acknowledged the difficulty of seeing these stories resurface and expressed hope that people would recognise that growth is possible.
BBC Statement on Vetting Failure
On Thursday last week, a BBC spokesperson issued a statement regarding the situation:
"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."
