The BBC has decided to shelve a documentary series fronted by Ashley Cain following the emergence of a series of sexist and misogynistic tweets posted by the former Ex On The Beach star.
Documentary Series Axed
Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone had already filmed its second series earlier this year. However, the BBC has stated that it has 'no plans' to broadcast it and that there are 'no future projects' with Cain in the pipeline.
The 35-year-old faced backlash this week after historic tweets were uncovered, where he reportedly used offensive, sexist, and misogynistic language about women. The posts, dating back several years, were brought to light by The Guardian.
Inappropriate Conduct
In a series of posts, Cain suggested blurring the lines of consent during sex. Additionally, concerns were raised about his conduct while he was selected to host Sin City: The Real Las Vegas. According to The Sun, after being flown to Nevada, Cain appeared drunk during filming, leading to a suspension of production. He was subsequently dropped from that project and replaced by another presenter.
Despite this incident, Cain returned to film with the BBC earlier this year for the second series of Into The Danger Zone.
BBC's Response
A BBC spokesperson commented: '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.'
Further Revelations
Cain, a former Coventry City FC footballer who also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, previously replied to social media users with explicit remarks, telling one to 'suck a d**k' and another to 'go and choke on a c**k'. After The Guardian exposed his comments, which appear to go back at least 15 years, his X account (formerly Twitter) seems to have been deactivated.
He allegedly tweeted 'jokes' on multiple occasions about hitting and slapping women, including a 2015 tweet about Love Island contestant Jessica Hayes. He stated that he 'would have to choke slam real quick' if he were in the villa with her. In another post, he wrote that he wanted to 'd**k f**k her and her big mouth, spit in her face and then f**k her off'.
It is also claimed that Cain posted about sexual practices that 'blur the boundaries of consent', such as a 2011 tweet about an extreme sex act involving semen, which he described as being carried out against a 'chick' or 'b***h'.
Background
Cain rose to prominence in the late 2000s when he made his professional football debut for Coventry City, followed by stints at Luton Town, Oxford United, and Mansfield Town.
