Katherine Ryan Breaks Years of Silence on Daughter's 'No-Contact' Father
Comedian Katherine Ryan has publicly criticised the father of her 16-year-old daughter Violet for the very first time, breaking a years-long silence on the subject. The 42-year-old star has branded her ex-partner a "no-contact parent" who "never pays for anything" and fails to make meaningful sacrifices for their child.
'Not the Type of Dad You Would Want'
In a candid new interview, Ryan declared: "He hasn't been the type of dad that you would want for your daughter." The comedian, who raised Violet alone after splitting from her ex when they moved to Britain in 2011, revealed that the father is "not really" involved in their daughter's life.
Ryan explained that she had been "careful never to s*** him off" previously because she "didn't think it was the right thing to do" while Violet was younger. However, she now feels her daughter is old enough at 16 to draw her own conclusions about her father's involvement.
From Protection to Public Criticism
"I really protected him while my daughter was young – I would never say anything bad about him," Ryan told the Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald podcast. "But now she's 16, she can see for herself that, unfortunately, he's not a bad person, but he's never made any sacrifices, never paid anything for her, just kind of texts her, which I think is breadcrumbing."
This represents a significant shift from Ryan's previous public stance. In her 2019 Netflix special Glitter Room, she stated: "He's my child's dad, and for that reason I shall never say a bad word about him." The comedian has maintained this position for years, never publicly identifying Violet's father, whom she met on the comedy circuit in Canada.
Minimal Effort Required
Ryan expressed frustration at the minimal contact the father maintains with Violet, suggesting that even small gestures would make a significant difference. "All you have to do with a teenage girl is drive to the mother's house, send her a text, and go, 'Do you want to come get a Starbucks with me?' It's all they have to do," she explained.
She continued with a specific example: "If not, I'll go get you a Starbucks. I'll drop it off. You come to the car, I'll give it to you, say, 'Hey, how are you? I love you. Here's your Starbucks, bye.' No pressure."
Reflections on Single Motherhood
Despite the challenges, Ryan has previously spoken positively about her experience as a single mother. She called the years spent alone with Violet "a wonderful decade" and told Kate Thornton on the White Wine Question Time podcast: "I don't think being a single mother explicitly was a struggle."
The Duchess star elaborated: "Being a single mother is fantastic and rewarding, and you know that you can't rely on anyone else so you just do it and you do it without resentment, because you don't have an example of another adult who isn't doing it and you don't have to consult with anyone."
Ryan, who now has three children with husband Bobby Koostra, added: "You know exactly where you stand, and you have this unique life experience." She also remarked that she believes she would be "a great non-contact parent because it's so easy," explaining that "the flow goes one way – parent to child. Just make yourself available, make some type of sacrifice."
