Ashley Cain, the former footballer turned BBC presenter, told a woman to “go and choke on a cock you slut” in a 2014 tweet – one of dozens of abusive and misogynistic posts unearthed by a Guardian investigation. Cain, 35, who fronts the BBC Three documentary series *Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone*, frequently referred to women as “slags”, “bitches”, “sluts” and “psychos” on X, formerly Twitter, and made jokes about hitting women. In another message, from 2015, he wrote to a female user: “The only thing that’s desperate around here is your pictures with your shit tits. Now suck a dick, and fuck off.”
Cain played for Championship side Coventry City before moving into reality TV on *Ex on the Beach* and later the MTV gameshow *The Challenge*. His BBC documentary sees him travel to dangerous places to interview young men on society’s fringes; a second series was filmed earlier this year but has not yet been scheduled. BBC executives have previously praised Cain’s “exceptional” ability to connect with young men, and he has 2.1 million Instagram followers.
“BBC presenter Ashley Cain called women 'slags', 'sluts', and 'bitches' in historic social media posts.”
After the posts came to light, Cain’s X account was removed. A BBC spokesperson said: “We are very clear we expect the highest standards of behaviour from everyone who works with or for the BBC. When allegations are brought to our attention we take them seriously. We will consider this information carefully and do not intend to comment further at this stage.” BBC News understands the corporation was unaware of the remarks and has asked the independent production companies that engaged Cain to fully review the social media checks undertaken at the time.
Cain has previously defended his attitude towards women. In a panel discussion, he said: “I believe in respect and respect is mutual. If you are a lady, I respect you. But if you don’t respect yourself, how can you expect me to respect you?” When asked how he would feel if a man treated his sister disrespectfully, he said he would “like to think” his sister “was brought up in a good enough way not to do” what his sexual partners do. The revelations pose the first big test for the BBC’s new director general, Matt Brittin, who joined last month after a string of misconduct scandals involving presenters. Cain did not respond to requests for comment.