Ryan Thomas’ mother Gail has said she’ll never forgive Roxanne Pallett for accusing Ryan of punching her in the Celebrity Big Brother house.
Former Emmerdale star Roxanne, 35, claimed Coronation Street’s Ryan, 34, punched her “repeatedly and deliberately” during what appeared to be a play fight.
It led Ryan, who apologised and said there was no malice, to be given a formal warning and caused mass outrage among his loved ones and viewers.
Ryan’s mum Gail appeared on This Morning on Tuesday, the day after Roxanne – who quit CBB last week – issued a public apology to her son.
Gail said: “I don’t think I’ll ever forgive her. I just want Ryan to feel good in his own state of mind. That will help me forgive Roxy more. If, when he gets over it, he can be normal again. It’s how she apologises to him. I think he needs to have a personal apology.”
She said it was a “relief” to hear Roxanne apologise publicly, but she feels Ryan still deserves a personal apology and to have his formal warning revoked.
Gail also said: “I feel like [Roxanne] is getting a lot of air time and still almost the only one speaking out. I would like Ryan to be able to use his voice.”
She said she was stunned when Roxanne made the allegation as she’d been “laughing along” when Ryan punched the air around Roxanne and appeared to engage her in a play fight.
“When she said to the diary room that she couldn’t sleep in the same room… It was just, ‘What on earth?’ I saw them and was almost giggling with them as they were play fighting. And she even had a little giggle when they went out. I thought it was all very playful and was smiling at it but I never dreamed the response from Roxanne.”
Gail said it was “very upsetting” to watch Ryan’s confusion after getting the warning.
I could just tell when he had that he was going down at that point. I don’t think he could believe it himself and I think that’s when his morale started to go.
“I think it could have been dealt with a little bit easier than her saying an accusation and him getting a formal warning.
“I don’t know what the reason was for that.”
Gail also felt the housemates should have been shown the footage as it was Roxanne’s word against Ryan’s word.
“It was quite isolating. She was the one telling the housemates but he had no proof and it was like nobody was backing him up so housemates just heard what she had told them, that he was repeatedly punching her. I just felt like he didn’t know where to go for help.”
When asked how this incident will affect Ryan long-term, Gail said: “He has a lot of support from family, friends and the nation when he comes out, that will help him. Plus his girlfriend (Lucy Mecklenburgh) who will absolutely smother him with kisses and hugs.
“He’ll have that enormous support but it’s what it’s done to him inside. How long he will take for him to ever pick himself up.
“He’s my baby and whatever age they are, when they’re in distress, your children, you want to reach out and give them a hug. That’s been the hardest part.”
In the interview with Emma on Monday night’s Celebrity Big Brother, Roxanne apologised to Ryan, his family, friends and loved ones.
Roxanne said: “I’m the most hated girl in Britain right now. It’s a lot to deal with… it’s the title I feel everyone is giving me at the moment and all I can do is own it, accept it, apologise and try to take each day now bettering all of those things I’m realising.
“I really mean I’m sorry. I saw a situation that was innocent misjudged because of me and my sensitivity, fragility, overreaction, whatever you want to call it, I’m all of those things. I used to think they were character traits but they are character flaws and that’s what I need to go away and sort out.
“For Ryan, his family, friends, colleagues and everyone I’ve affected by such an enormous reaction that could have been devastating for him, all I can say is I’m devastated and I’m sorry.
“I need to say I got it wrong and I’m human and made a nasty, massive, horrible mistake.”
Roxanne added: “I feel devastated. It cripples me with embarrassment and shame that I could have put somebody in that position, seeing the footage of Ryan in the diary room distressed…
Read more: Secrets behind Roxanne Pallett and Ryan Thomas’ decades-long feud
“I wish I had the words to say how gutted I am. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I got it wrong. The only thing I can do is go away now and figure out why I became that sensitive that I manufactured that different version in my head.
“The fact I used terminology like woman beater, assault and abuse. I can’t apologise enough.”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV.
Celebrity Big Brother continues tonight on Channel 5.
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