Ashley Cain is ‘not proud of’ his sexist and misogynistic tweets, which resulted in the BBC sacking him last week.
The 35-year-old came under fire for historic tweets where he reportedly used offensive, sexist and misogynistic language about women.
After this, the BBC said that it has ‘no plans’ to broadcast the second series of Into the Danger Zone and there are ‘no future projects’ with Cain in the pipeline.
He has now spoken out in a post addressed to his ‘community’ on Instagram, saying he takes accountability for what was said.
‘I don’t deny it. I don’t excuse it. and I certainly don’t condone it,’ the Ex on the Beach star began the message.
Cain continued: ‘The truth is that these comments were made over a decade ago by a younger version of myself who still had a lot of growing up to do. I cannot change the past, and truthfully, I have never tried to hide from it.
‘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.’
In a series of posts dating back several years, which were uncovered by The Guardian, Cain suggested blurring the lines of consent during sex.
He allegedly tweeted ‘jokes’ on numerous occasions about hitting and slapping women, with one being 2015 Love Island contestant Jessica Hayes.
It was also revealed that concerns were raised about his conduct when he was picked to host Sin City: The Real Las Vegas.
Cain went on to say that during that time in his life he felt ‘lost, frustrated and unsure of where my life was heading’ after his football career ended over an injury.
He explained that reality TV had given him a ‘second chance’ but left him navigating a world of fame that he ‘didn’t know’.
‘One in which I was rewarded for developing a provocative personality,’ Cain wrote. ‘None of that excuses the things I said, but it is part of the truth of where I was and who I was becoming.’
Reflecting on his development since then, he listed the ‘incredible women’ in his life, including his mum, nan, auntie, and sister.
‘They taught me compassion, resilience, and respect long before I truly understood the valune of those things,’ he penned. ‘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.’
He went on to discuss how the death of his daughter had changed him ‘forever’, sharing that he had dedicated his life to honour her ‘legacy’.
Azaylia was just eight months old when she died in 2021 after being diagnosed with a ‘rare and aggressive’ form of leukaemia.
He and her mum, Safiyya, had planned to take their little girl to Singapore for treatment after their fundraising page hit the £1million mark but were then told she only had days left to live.
Cain said during this time, the family experienced ‘mocking’ and death threats from strangers, which sometimes felt ‘unbearable’.
He reiterated that he had grown from this, ‘not because he is special’ but because he ‘chose better’ and had let go of the anger.
Wrapping the length statement, Cain said: ‘I cannot change the past. None of us can.
‘But every day I wake up, I can choose the man I want to be, and I can choose the impact I want to have on those around me. That is what I have tried to do for many years now, and it is what I will continue to do moving forward.’
The post was flooded with messages of support for Cain, including from Safiyya, although the pair have split.
Cain’s X account, from which the sexist comments originated, now seems to have been deactivated.
Previously, the BBC said the comments were ‘unacceptable’ and removed him from presenting duties.