Katherine Ryan Addresses Victoria Beckham Remark on TV Show

Comedian Katherine Ryan recently made an appearance in a Celine Dion hoodie while en route to a book tour event in Manchester. The outing coincided with Ryan's promotional activities for her memoir, "Firstborn Daughter." This event follows her public acknowledgment of attempting to "make it right" with Victoria Beckham after a remark made on the BBC program "Have I Got News For You." The BBC had upheld complaints regarding Ryan linking an offensive term to the fashion designer during the show.

Ryan, 43, recounted that even her husband, Bobby Kootstra, disapproved of the comment, advising her that she "get[s] yourself in trouble sometimes." She explained to The Times that while she intended to be irreverent and admires Beckham, she takes responsibility for causing offense. "Even if they're a massive celebrity, I do feel bad about that. I try to make it right," she stated.

The controversy stemmed from a segment on "Have I Got News For You" where the word in question was discussed in relation to David Beckham. The BBC's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) ruled that while panellist Maisie Adam's use of the word was justified in referencing Sir David's alleged use, Ryan's subsequent joke involving Victoria Beckham lacked editorial justification. The ECU stated there was "no such justification for a comment which presented Victoria Beckham as equivalent to a particularly offensive word."

An internal investigation into the November 2025 episode was initiated after two viewers found the remark "gratuitously offensive." In response to the backlash, Ryan posted a video on social media, attributing the incident partly to her postpartum state, having given birth shortly before filming. She questioned whether she should have left the house under such circumstances, acknowledging that while she was a "woman going to work," she had made an offensive comment about another woman. She noted that if she had directed such a remark at a male comedian like Jimmy Carr, it might have been received differently.

Ryan further clarified that her comment was intended as a joke and that the audience's reaction indicated its immediate reception. She also shared a screenshot of a message she sent to Victoria Beckham, aiming to clarify that the remark was "a stupid joke and I didn't mean any harm towards you at all."

In a broader context, Ryan mentioned that she generally ignores internet trolls. "If I can offer entertainment, even in the form of everyone slagging me off, I don't mind. They're having fun. I don't give a st. I'm a millionaire with healthy children. Why give a st?" she commented.