Rylan Clark has revealed he once woke up in the back of an ambulance with a fractured skull after being attacked by homophobic thugs.
The TV presenter, 35, recalled the incident in his new documentary Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me.
The former X Factor star told how he was often subjected to anti-gay slurs whenever he tried to play football with other children while growing up.
According Sun, said: “I remember, when I was a child, even if I went to play football with all the boys, they would call me ‘gay boy’.” It’s like, ‘What do you want me to do then?’
Rylan was a fan of the Spice Girls and dancing as a child, which he believes made him a target for bullies.
Rylan Clark has revealed that he once woke up in the back of an ambulance with a fractured skull after being attacked by homophobic thugs (pictured in his new documentary Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me).
The TV presenter, 35, recalled the incident in his new documentary Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me
He recalled an incident when he went to the local park with a group of friends after school and was attacked while on the swings.
He said: ‘I remember that hand touching the back of my head, throwing me to the ground from the platform and kicking me in the head.
“And the next full memory I have is being in the back of an ambulance and waking up right here, passing my house on the way to the hospital.”
Rylan, whose real name is Ross Clark, was told his skull was fractured in a couple of places after his head was kicked and stomped on.
Speaking to consultant psychiatrist Dr Bruce Clark, Rylan said that “in a sick way” he is almost glad the attack happened as it taught him never to treat anyone badly.
The host said he sees his character Rylan as a character and compares it to having “a suit of armor.”
Of the documentary, Rylan said: “Growing up loving football and being a West Ham fan, I always assumed I could go to the games whenever I wanted as I got older.”
He continued: ‘But as time went on and as a gay man, I sometimes felt uncomfortable with spectators at games.
The former X Factor star told how he was often the target of anti-gay slurs whenever he tried to play football with other children growing up (pictured in the documentary).
Rylan also spoke to Rio Ferdinand in the documentary about his past use of anti-gay slurs.
“I’m not someone who takes offense easily, but some of the language and insults that football fans use on a daily basis made going to games almost impossible, especially as I became more and more well-known and they started directing them towards me. “. .
‘This documentary aims to highlight that football is for everyone regardless of what you do in your private life.
“I talk to fans, players, past and present, about how the beautiful game could be even more beautiful for everyone to enjoy, and how, as fans, we can change to help players feel comfortable sharing their sexuality.” if they wish.”
Manchester United star Rio said: “Discrimination in any form has no place in society and it has been confronting to hear what Rylan has had to endure as a gay man who simply wanted to go support his local football team. “.
“When I was young, I was guilty of flippantly using words and phrases that I recognized were completely wrong and it’s something I talk to Rylan about in the documentary.
He concluded: “Contributing to the documentary and speaking at length with Rylan was an education in itself in understanding his world.”
Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me premieres February 13 at 10:30pm on TNT Sports 1 and will be available to stream on Discovery+.
He recalled an incident when he went to the local park with a group of friends after school and was attacked while on the swings.