Yahoo News Rylan reveals his skull was fractured in shocking homophobic attack
Rylan remembered waking up in the back of an ambulance after the attack
What did you miss?
Rylan has said his skull was fractured in a homophobic attack when he was younger.
The This Morning presenter remembered the incident in his documentary Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me which explores football as an LGBTQ+ fan. Looking back on his own life experiences, Rylan remembered waking up in the back of an ambulance after he was attacked.
What, how and why?
During the documentary, Rylan visited a playground where he would hang out with his friends after school. The TV star took the opportunity to speak openly about the time he was ambushed and attacked on the rope swings.
According to The Sun, he said on the documentary: "There was this group of boys who weren’t our friends, and they weren't very nice. I remember, just this hand coming on the back of my head, throwing me down to the floor from the platform, and just getting kicked in the head.
"And the next full memory I have is being in the back of an ambulance, and waking up right here, driving past my house on the way to the hospital. I remember saying, ‘I live there, that’s my house,’ because I didn’t know what was going on, and the doctor said, 'Lay down, lay down, your head is bleeding.'"
The X Factor singer detailed the extent of his injuries following the attack. He added: "My skull was fractured in a couple of places. I was told my head was repeatedly kicked and stamped on. I just got kicked in the head because I liked something else other than football."
Why has Rylan made Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me?
It was released at the same time as LGBT History Month. Growing up as a West Ham football fan, Rylan said on the documentary that sometimes as a gay man he "felt uncomfortable around spectators at the games".
He further explained on the documentary: "I’m not one to be easily offended but some of the language and insults that are used on a daily basis by football crowds made going to games almost impossible, especially as I got more and more known and started having them directed at me.
"This documentary aims to highlight that football is for everyone regardless of what you get up to in your private life. I talk to fans, players, past and present, about how the beautiful game could be even prettier for everyone to enjoy, and how as fans we can change to help make players feel comfortable sharing their sexuality if they wish to do so."
Also featuring in the documentary are England legends Rio Ferdinand and Jen Beattie. Manchester United star Ferdinand said: "Discrimination in any form has no place in society and it has been confronting to hear what Rylan has had to endure as a gay man who simply wanted to go and support his local football team.
"As a young man, I was guilty of flippantly using words and phrases that I recognise were completely wrong and it’s something I open up to Rylan about in the documentary."
Rylan: Homophobia, Football and Me airs tonight (February 13) at 10.30pm on TNT Sports 1 and is available to stream on Discovery+.
