UMVA has learned that Ashley Cain, a former professional footballer turned TV presenter, has been embroiled in a scandal after allegedly sharing misogynistic and abusive tweets, as well as displaying intoxicated behavior on set.
The controversy began when Cain seemed drunk during filming on June 12, prompting concerns from the crew, especially since he was scheduled to meet with vulnerable contributors, including representatives from a sex trafficking charity and a sex worker.
Following the incident, filming was suspended, and Cain's agent was notified after a BBC commissioner was informed of the crew's concerns. Statements were taken from those working on the show and shared with the BBC, leading to Cain being effectively removed from the job and returned to the UK.
Despite his removal from the project, interviews conducted by Cain were still included in the final edit, albeit with his questions edited out, such as his chat with gambling addiction survivor Rob Minnick.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Cain's past tweets have sparked outrage, with allegations of misogyny and abuse. He allegedly referred to women using derogatory terms, including 'psychos', 'sgs', 'sts', and 'b*s'.
Furthermore, Cain reportedly made explicit remarks to social media users, telling one to 'suck a dk' and another to 'go and choke on a ck'. His tweets appear to have been online for over a decade before his account was deactivated.
The allegations against Cain include tweets from 2011 to 2015, where he allegedly made jokes about hitting and slapping women, including a 2015 Love Island contestant, Jessica Hayes, whom he said he 'would have to choke slam real quick' if he were in the villa with her.
In another post, Cain allegedly wrote that he wanted to 'dk fk her and her big mouth, spit in her face and then fk her off'. He also allegedly posted about sexual practices that 'blur the boundaries of consent'.
The BBC's vetting process has come under scrutiny following the allegations against Cain, who was praised by commissioners for 'connecting with young men in a truly exceptional way'.
A BBC spokesperson stated that they expect the highest standards of behavior from everyone who works with or for the BBC and will consider the information carefully.
Cain's future projects, including the second series of 'Into the Danger Zone', remain uncertain, despite his Instagram post suggesting it would be released next month.
The presenter has over two million followers online and has been involved in various charity efforts, including raising £1.5m for his late daughter, Azaylia, who died from leukemia in 2021.
