Rylan Clark says he’s not the BBC presenter accused of paying teens thousands for sexually explicit photos they then used to buy crack cocaine
- The unnamed presenter is said to have asked the teenager for ‘gigs’
Rylan Clark has taken to social media to clear his name amid reports that a top BBC star paid a vulnerable teenager £35,000 for sexual photos the youngster used to buy crack cocaine.
A presenter, described as known but not named, is said to have started paying the teen when they were 17 and sent them the money they used to fund a drug addiction.
The child’s mother, who made the shocking allegations in May, told the Sun she feels “sick” when she sees the man on TV, as questions grow about why it took the company so long to act.
Today Rylan, who has presented alongside a range of other work on BBC Radio Two, has distanced himself from the reports with a post on Twitter.
He wrote: ‘I’m not sure why my names are floating around, but it’s about that story in The Sun – that’s not me honey.
Rylan Clark has taken to social media to clear his name amid reports a BBC top star paid a vulnerable teen £35,000 for sexual photos the youngster used to buy crack cocaine
The star wrote today: ‘Not sure why my names are floating around but again that story in The Sun – that’s not me baby
“I’m currently filming a show in Italy for the BBC, so get my name out of your mouth.”
The unnamed star is said to have requested “gigs” from the individual, who told their mother that they would then “do their part.”
Two months ago, the family made a formal complaint to the BBC, begging bosses to stop the behavior towards their child, now 20.
On social media, the company was criticized for the lengthy time it allegedly took to launch an investigation.
One said: ‘They were approached in May by the child’s parents with evidence! I’ve done a lot of workplace investigations in my time and it certainly doesn’t take months!’
It is alleged that the star sent hundreds or even thousands of pounds in one go, after depositing a sum of £5,000 into the teen’s bank account.
The devastated mother said: ‘Every time I see him on television, I feel sick.
“I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life – taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.”
She continued, “The money was in exchange for sexually explicit photos of my child.”
The presenter who was central to the investigation has reportedly been taken off the air
Two months ago, the family made a formal complaint to the BBC, begging bosses to stop the behavior towards their child, now 20 years old.
The star, reportedly known to millions, reportedly solicited “appearances” from the teen, who used the money to fund their growing drug addiction.
The explicit messages would have started in 2020. The family said the star did not hide his identity and even sent photos to the teen while he was at work.
The mother told the Sun that their child went from a “happy-go-lucky youngster” to a ghostly crack addict in just three years.
It is alleged that even after the family complained, the star continued to send money and stay on the air.
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We treat all allegations very seriously and we have procedures in place to proactively address them.
As part of that, if we receive information that requires further investigation or investigation, we will take steps to do so.
“That includes actively trying to talk to those who have contacted us to get more details and understanding of the situation.
“If we don’t get a response to our attempts or lose contact, it may limit our ability to make progress, but that doesn’t mean our research stops.
“If at any time new information comes to light or is provided – including through newspapers – it will be acted upon appropriately, in accordance with internal processes.”