Rylan Clark was left visibly stunned when asked about his celebrity friends facing 'cancellation' during an appearance on ITV's new programme, The Assembly. The 36-year-old broadcaster, known for his work on BBC Radio 2, was interviewed by a panel of autistic and neurodivergent individuals in the experimental show that launched last month.
Rylan's Close Friends in the Spotlight
Rylan counts numerous famous personalities among his close circle. However, earlier this year, his former colleague Scott Mills, 53, was dismissed by the BBC following allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy, first reported in 2016. Mills has stated he cooperated with the police investigation and intends to sue the BBC for unfair dismissal. Rylan, who previously co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest with Mills, has refrained from commenting publicly on the matter.
During the interview, one of the show's interviewers, Jacob, asked: 'How do you cope when one of your celebrity friends is cancelled?' Rylan exhaled slowly before responding: 'It's really tough... Especially because some of them are not just my work friends – they're genuinely, like, close friends. At the end of the day, if someone's done something wrong, then I understand why they can't carry on doing what they're doing.'
Rylan's Thoughts on Cancel Culture
While Rylan did not mention any names, he added: 'But I do feel today that we live in a world where people will wanna go for you and cancel you for the sake of just doing it, because they can.' He urged viewers to look beyond what they 'hear or read' and not be 'frightened to ask why' certain decisions are made. After Jacob walked away, Rylan joked: 'God, this is like a lucky dip. You just don't know what's coming next, do you?'
His comments follow reports that other colleagues of Mills were left 'shell-shocked' by his dismissal. Rylan is the latest celebrity to face tough questions on The Assembly. He was also asked about his ex-husband Dan Neal, admitting to cheating before their divorce. The show continues to air on ITV, challenging celebrities with unfiltered questions from a unique interviewer panel.
