Rylan Clark made his long-awaited return to the This Morning sofa on Friday, over five months since his last appearance caused controversy.
The former X Factor hasn’t been seen on the show since August, when his comments about immigration landed him in hot water with viewers and even prompted over 700 Ofcom complaints.
On Friday, he returned to show alongside co-host Emma Willis. His absence, his previous comments, and the reasons behind his lengthy break weren’t addressed.
However, within moments of Mr Clark appearing back on screen, it appeared not enough water had gone under the bridge for his critics to welcome him back.
Rylan Clark and Emma Willis fronted Friday’s This Morning
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ITV
“Damn not @Rylan hosting #ThisMorning today. Won’t be watching that lol,” one ITV complained on X, while a second hit out: “Good to see it’s @reformparty_uk day on @thismorning with everyone’s favourite reform idiot @Rylan ……..no we’ve not forgotten the comments on immigrants!!” (sic)
However, as soon as the complaints began to rain in on social media, so did the overwhelming support for the BBC Radio 2 star.
Several This Morning jumped to Mr Clark’s defence, with many arguing his August comments on immigration weren’t ever contentious or warranted a cancellation.
“Lovely to see @Rylan on #thismorning with @EmmaWillis,” one fan said on X. “I’d be furious if Rylan had got cancelled, he didn’t say anything offensive, just spoke the truth.”
Rylan Clark immigration speech sparked a series of complaints
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ITV
A second echoed: “RYLAN …..I see ITV hasn’t been stupid and woke, they’ve kept Rylan after his migrant boat comments. Obviously ITV knew that he’d have walked if he couldn’t speak his mind. #thismorning.” (sic)
“It’s good to see Rylan presenting the show today, and that he hasn’t been cancelled, despite the cries of the snowflakes. #thismorning,” a third weighed in, while a fourth praised: “Yay… good to see Rylan & Emma #ThisMorning.”
Elsewhere, a fifth launched a similar defence: “#ThisMorning Just because people believe illegal migration has got out of hand doesn’t make them Far Right fanatics, it makes them rational.”
And a sixth concurred: “If you are foaming at Rylan being on #ThisMorning after previously mentioning the real state of migration, show us the receipts: how many people have you taken in, or is your virtue strictly decorative?” (sic)
Rylan Clark has been absent from This Morning ever since his remarks
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ITV“Rylan and Emma! Are the producers finally listening to the viewers? #thismorning,” another weighed in while an eighth commented: “I like Rylan. I don’t really care about his or anyone else’s politics, as I keep my own counsel. I just like him. #thismorning.” (sic)
This Morning received a total of 702 Ofcom complaints following Mr Clark’s comments on immigration during the episode broadcast on Wednesday, August 27.
The remarks arose when Mr Clark and Josie Gibson spoke to Camilla Tominey and The Apprentice star Tim Campbell about the latest news headlines.
After discussing the latest number of migrants who’d crossed the Channel, Mr Clark explained: “This country is built on immigration. Legal immigration — a lot of the nurses, the doctors that have saved my mum’s life have come over here from other countries.
“They’re living a great life, they’re paying into this tax system, they’re helping this country thrive.
“I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel.
“And when they get here, it does seem, and I think this is why a lot of Labour voters as well are saying there’s something wrong, it feels like, ‘Welcome, come on in’.
“That’s the narrative we’re being fed, ‘Here’s the iPad. Here’s the NHS in the reception of your hotel. Here’s three meals a day. Here’s a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time and welcome.'”
Rylan’s fans celebrated his return to This Morning
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X
The comments hit headlines as complaints rained in, but Mr Clark stood firm on social media soon after.
On Instagram, the 37-year-old shared: “You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes.
“You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women. You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. The list continues.
“Stop with this putting everyone in a box exercise and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter.”
Rylan Clark and Emma Willis during Friday’s This Morning
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ITV