Comedian Katherine Ryan says a prominent TV personality is a 'predator'

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By Asiya Ali

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Katherine Ryan has made further comments about a prominent TV personality from the UK that she claims is a "predator".

Earlier this year, during her show Backstage With Katherine Ryan, the 36-year-old comedian accused a fellow comic of being a sexual predator, claiming that she had repeatedly called him out on the set of an unidentified TV program.

"I called him a predator to his face and in front of everyone that day," Ryan said, per the Independent. "What am I supposed to do? It’s such a messy thing because I don’t have proof. What, am I not supposed to feed my children because of someone else?"

Now, speaking to Louis Theroux on Tuesday's episode of his BBC Two series, Louis Theroux Interviews, Ryan reiterated her belief - without divulging who it is - and said that the alleged abuser is a "perpetrator of sexual assault".

"It’s very dangerous for us to have this conversation," the Duchess actress said. "I’m happy to have it, but it’s a litigious minefield because lots of people have tried to nail this person down for their alleged crimes and this person has very good lawyers, so am I going to put my mortgage on the line by saying who this person is or entering into any conversations like that?"

"We’ve seen what happens to the people who talk about alleged predators," she told the 52-year-old documentarian. However, she stressed that wasn't the victim, explaining: "It’s not really my story to tell."

"No one has perpetrated any sexual assault against me, but this person, I believe very strongly - many people believe very strongly - is an open secret, is a perpetrator of sexual assault," she said. "I, in front of loads of people, in the format of the show said to this person’s face that they are a predator."

Speaking about her remarks to the TV personality on set that were cut from the broadcast, the Canadian comic said: "No, which is fine. I still got paid and I still did my job, but I did it in my way, which I thought was fair."

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Ryan and husband Bobby Kootstra. Credit: Ana Maria Wiggins / Alamy.

In other parts of her interview with Theroux, the former 8 out of 10 cats co-host said she doesn't mind that her marriage and appearance are the punchlines of jokes.

Mentioning her marriage to high school boyfriend Bobby Kootstra, who she had lost touch with but reunited in 2019, Ryan said: "I got a lot of people holding out for the divorce, they want to see this end badly for me."

The interviewer then asked her about a joke in her stand-up routine where she says her husband fell for her after seeing her house.

"And I say that because that's what people want me to say. They want me to be aware that he might be using me for money," she said. "It's fun for people, I don't want to spoil their fun."

Ryan revealed that she doesn't care if jokes are made about her, however, her lack of awareness about what other people think of her has gotten her into trouble when making jokes about other celebrities.

"That gets me in trouble sometimes because I'll assume that everyone feels that way. I don't want to hurt people's feelings, I forget that people have feelings I don't," she said.

"If someone had a really good joke about me, I'd love it," she explained, adding, "It's my preference that people like me, but if they don't, I really don't mind."

Louis Theroux Interviews Katherine Ryan is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Featured image credit: Matt Crossick / Alamy