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 insults when trying to play football with other boys growing up.
According to The sun, he said, “I just remember when I was growing up, even when I went to play football with all the boys, they would be like ‘gay boy.’ It’s like, ‘What do you want me to do then?’
Rylan was a fan of the Spice Girls and growing up, he says he was a target for bullies.
Rylan Clark has revealed 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 his local park with a group of friends after school and was attacked while sitting on the swing.
He said: ‘I remember getting a hand on the back of the head, throwing me from the apron to the ground and getting a kick in the head.
“And the next complete memory I have is sitting in the back of an ambulance and waking up here, driving past my house on the way to the hospital.”
Rylan, whose real name is Ross Clark, was told his skull was fractured in several places after being kicked and stomped on.
In a conversation with consultant psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Clark said Rylan “sick” that he was almost glad the attack happened because it taught him never to mistreat anyone.
The host said he sees his persona of Rylan as a character and compares it to having “an armor.”
Speaking about the documentary, Rylan said: ‘Growing up loving football and being a West Ham fan, I always assumed that as I got older I could go to matches whenever I wanted.
He continued: “But as time went on and as a gay man, I sometimes felt uncomfortable with spectators at matches.
The former X Factor star told how he was often subjected to anti-gay abuse when trying to play football with other boys 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 one to take offense easily, but the language and insults used every day by the football public made it almost impossible to go to matches, especially as I became more and more famous and they started to be directed at me. .
‘This documentary wants to emphasize 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, and how we as fans can change to ensure players feel comfortable sharing their sexuality as they want that.’
Manchester United star Rio said: ‘Discrimination in any form has no place in society and it was confronting to hear what Rylan has had to endure as a gay man who just wanted to support his local football team.
‘As a young man I was guilty of flippantly using words and phrases that I know were completely wrong, and it’s something I open up to Rylan about in the documentary.
He ended with: ‘Contributing to the documentary and talking to Rylan at length was an education in itself to gain insight into his world.’
Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me premieres February 13 at 10:30 PM on TNT Sports 1 and can be streamed on Discovery+.
He recalled an incident when he went to his local park with a group of friends after school and was attacked while sitting on the swing
