Katherine Ryan says ‘it’s an open secret’ that famous TV star is a sexual predator
Katherine Ryan has claimed it is an 'open secret' that a well-known TV star is a sexual predator.
The Canadian said she has confronted the fellow comic to his face about the allegations, but said it is 'dangerous' for her to talk in detail about his apparent crimes because of the potential legal ramifications.
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She discussed the allegations with Louis Theroux in the most recent episode of the new BBC Two series, Louis Theroux Interviews.
Asked by Theroux what she meant by the term 'predator', the 39-year-old replied: "I think I mean a perpetrator of sexual assault, but it is very dangerous for us to have this conversation.
"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."
Ryan added that 'it's not really my story to tell… no one has perpetrated any sexual assaults against me'.
She continued: "But this person, I believe very strongly, so do a lot of people… is an open secret, is a perpetrator of sexual assault.
"I, in front of loads of people, in the format of the show said to this person's face that they are a predator, again and again."
She explained that these parts of the unnamed show were taken out in the edit.
"It's fine, I still got paid and I still did my job, but I did it in my way that I felt was fair," she said.
"This is what we talk about… female comics and probably actresses and women in my industry talk about all the time because that is the safest way for us to talk about it."
She added: "I didn't tell any employer or blow or whistle or do anything at all, I handled it, for lack of a better term, like a man, and said it to his face."
Asked about the criticism she had received for not naming the individual, she continued: "Every time these things are eventually proven, everybody knew.
"I didn't mean to cause a stir about it, I just say things as they are."
You can watch Louis Theroux Interviews on BBC iPlayer.
Jake Massey