Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan has found herself at the centre of a heated online debate after candidly discussing her fear of men during a recent BBC Radio 4 appearance, prompting both criticism and staunch defence from her supporters.
The Radio Interview That Started The Controversy
During her appearance on Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett for BBC Radio 4, the 42-year-old comedian made a vulnerable admission that quickly went viral. "The reality is, I am afraid of men," Ryan stated frankly, explaining that what some perceive as "man-bashing" in her comedy actually stems from genuine fear.
Ryan elaborated on her comedic approach, saying: "I speak about men in a way that is criticised a lot. I think I'm being vulnerable when I speak like that. What I'm saying when I 'roast' men is that I'm afraid of them." She referenced one of her signature jokes: "Men are nature's gun. You're statistically more likely to be killed by the one in your house."
Personal Journey and Mental Reframing
The comedian revealed that she had to consciously "retrain her brain" away from past traumatic experiences with men, including stopping watching documentaries about femicide. This mental shift proved crucial in her personal life, as she credits this reframing with helping her meet her husband, Bobby Kootstra, in 2019.
"He was the first man that I had dated in my adult life who wasn't an aggressor, who didn't hate me for any crumb of success that I found," Ryan shared about her husband, with whom she shares three children and has a daughter from a previous relationship.
Ryan explained the psychological concept of confirmation bias in her journey, noting: "If you have decided that men are this way, it's no wonder that you keep dating men who are this way. Because people wanna have their own truth."
Social Media Backlash and Fan Defence
When clips from the interview were shared on BBC Radio 4's Instagram page, the comments section quickly divided. Some male critics accused Ryan of generalisation and bullying, with one user calling her remarks "ridiculous" and another describing the comedy as "man bashing."
However, Ryan's supporters swiftly came to her defence, with many women sharing similar experiences of fear. One commenter noted: "All the defensive comments from men are really telling," while another pointed out that Ryan had specifically discussed confirmation bias and mental reframing.
Several male supporters also joined the conversation, with one writing: "Lads, listen to her. This isn't about you unless you are those men. We need to listen more." Celebrity friends including Katie Piper and Ranvir Singh showed their public support for Ryan's vulnerable admission.
This isn't the first time Katherine Ryan has sparked controversy by sharing her experiences as a woman. Last year, she discussed the trauma of her friend's murder by an ex-boyfriend, and in 2022, she famously called out a "sexual predator" in the comedy world during an interview with Louis Theroux.
