Rio Ferdinand admits using ‘disgraceful’ language about LGBTQ+ people in the past: ‘It was difficult for my gay sister’-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

Rio Ferdinand has admitted he has used ‘disgraceful’ language about LGBTQ+ people in the past.

The former professional footballer, who played for the England national team 81 times, was speaking on This Morning promoting his new documentary series Tipping Point when he acknowledged previous mistakes.

‘On the journey of fulfilment I myself have used language that would be deemed disgraceful today and I had to open up [on the series],’ Rio said.

When host Phillip Schofield, who came out as gay in 2019, questioned if he was referring to the incident when he used a gay slur against radio host Chris Moyles on air in 2006, he said yes.

Ferdinand went on to say that working on his series, which over three episodes tackles racism, homophobia and the mental health crisis in football, opened his eyes.

‘I showed my sister this, and my sister is openly gay and her having to grow up listening to language used in our house…it was difficult [for her], he said.

‘As family you need to be educated and willing to change and look at the way you behave and use language and allow yourself to be and feel vulnerable in those situations but is here and we have to be open and I don’t understand how people aren’t.’

Rio is now presenting a documentary that tackles homophobia in football (Picture: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

His comments also came after Phillip asked him whether attending the upcoming World Cup in Qatar would not ‘make it easier’ for any gay footballers to come out and ‘live their lives and be their true selves’.

‘I understand people’s concerns, but are we expecting cancel culture to carry over into every topic that we talk about,’ he responded.

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‘You have to be in the room and present to try and shift the dial and there is no way you can help educate or change [without being there].

‘Of course I am going to go. I think anyone watching these documentaries I’ve done would know where I stand on these issues and I think you cannot stand away from these situations.’

Rio Ferdinand’s Tipping Point is streaming on Prime Video from Friday November 11. This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.

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