BBC presenter Ashley Cain called women 'slags', 'sluts' and 'bitches' in old tweets
BBC presenter Ashley Cain, praised for connecting with young male audiences, has a history of misogynistic tweets from 2011–2017, calling women slags, sluts, psychos and bitches. The BBC said it was unaware and will review the matter.
Ashley Cain, a BBC presenter who hosts the documentary series “Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone” on BBC Three, has been found to have a long history of abusive and misogynistic comments about women on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to an investigation by The Guardian, Cain repeatedly used derogatory terms such as “slags”, “sluts”, “psychos” and “bitches” between 2011 and 2017, and made jokes about hitting women and degrading sexual acts.
In one 2014 tweet, Cain told a female user to “go and choke on a cock you slut”. In 2015, he wrote to another: “The only thing that’s desperate around here is your pictures with your shit tits. Now suck a dick, and fuck off.” Dozens of similar public posts were identified.
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.” The corporation stated it had been unaware of Cain's posts and has asked the production companies that hired him to review what checks were undertaken. Cain's X account appeared to have been removed late on Wednesday. He did not respond to requests for comment.
The revelations pose a significant test for new BBC director general Matt Brittin, who joined last month after a series of scandals involving BBC presenters. Cain was previously known for his appearance on MTV's “Ex on the Beach”, where he used the phrase “you can't turn a hoe into a housewife”. In 2015, a woman named Rachel Roftis alleged that Cain uploaded a video of them having sex to Snapchat without her consent. Cain claimed she consented.
Despite this, BBC executives praised Cain's “exceptional” ability to connect with young men, and he was promoted as “what BBC Three is about”. He also appeared on “Celebrity MasterChef” in 2025, reaching the semi-final.
Since the death of his daughter Azaylia from leukaemia in 2021, Cain has become a prominent fundraiser for childhood cancer research.
An external review commissioned by the BBC in April 2025 found evidence that “a minority of people” behaved unacceptably within the corporation and that such behaviour “is not addressed”. The review recommended clear standards for everyone working with the BBC.
