Rylan Clark has finally spoken out after his controversial comments on This Morning sparked a fierce national debate — and he’s making one thing crystal clear: he’s not backing down. Following a wave of outrage, Ofcom complaints, and intense online reaction, the presenter has drawn a firm line in the sand, insisting he stands by every word he said.
The 37-year-old television and radio star found himself at the centre of more than 700 Ofcom complaints after discussing immigration live on ITV earlier this year. While hosting alongside Josie Gibson, Rylan stressed that the UK is “built on immigration,” praising the contribution of legal migrants — including the nurses and doctors who helped save his mother’s life. But it was his criticism of illegal Channel crossings and the government’s handling of the issue that ignited a firestorm.
Rylan questioned what he saw as a contradiction in policy, asking why British citizens without passports can be refused entry at airports while those arriving illegally are offered accommodation. The remarks quickly divided opinion, with some viewers branding him reckless and others applauding him for saying what many feel but won’t voice publicly.
This week, Rylan appeared to reference the controversy while performing as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion. After an on-stage slip of the tongue — quickly laughed off — he joked that he might be “cancelled for the second time this year,” a clear nod to the backlash that has followed him since the summer.
Despite the fallout, Rylan has remained defiant. He later clarified on social media that it is possible to be both pro-immigration and opposed to illegal routes, a stance he says has been deliberately misunderstood. Insiders claim the controversy rattled ITV group chats and sparked intense behind-the-scenes discussion — but there was no quiet apology, no damage control.
Instead, Rylan’s message has been blunt and unwavering: “I said what I said — and I stand by it.” Love him or loathe him, his refusal to retreat has turned a fleeting TV moment into a defining stand. And as the debate continues to rage online and beyond, one thing is certain — Rylan Clark has no intention of being silenced.
