...as Sara Pascoe reveals her dilemma after being told a fellow comic was a rapist

Katherine Ryan has revealed how she called out a colleague she thinks is a sexual predator. 

Without naming the man, the comedian said she made the allegation backstage on a TV show, in front of other members of the crew.

And she admitted to being conflicted about working with a man she believed to be an abuser.

Speaking to Sara Pascoe on her new Amazon Prime Video show, Backstage With Katherine Ryan, the 38-year-old Canadian said: 'I've done a show with a person who I and you believe is a predator. What am I supposed to do?’

’What do I do, not do it? It’s such a messy thing because I don't have proof – what, am I not supposed to feed my children because of someone else?' 

Pascoe replied: 'Also in that instance that you're referencing, it was about raising it.’

Ryan said: 'I raised it. I called him a predator to his face and in front of everyone every day.' 

Pascoe revealed that she passed on fears about another male celebrity after a viewer got in touch over social media to say he raped her.

She said: 'Have you had - because I had it recently – ever done a job and then someone's contacted you and said: "That's my rapist?"

‘I had it on a job recently where I've had to go to the channel.. and you feel such a sense of responsibility but you also want it to be dealt with well It's so complicated.’

Ryan told The Times she empathised with Pascoe’s dilemma.

‘What do you do with that information?,’ she said. ‘That has never happened to me, but there have been jobs that I have considered not taking because there is someone on it who is potentially predatory, and then I am, like, so what are we to do? Just take ourselves out of the industry?

‘That is not a protest anyone cares about. Or do I take the job to feed my children because I didn’t rape anyone? In the end you just have to weigh up all those opportunities and think what is going to make a difference.’

Backstage With Katherine Ryan features stand-up mixed with green room chat and the host roasting her guests, after mulling the insults with co-writer Geoff Norcott.

The show was filed at the Roundhouse in London and comedians involved include Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Sarah Millican, Judi Love and Nish Kumar.

Published: 9 Jun 2022