Ashley Cain speaks out after backlash over his newborn baby’s middle name

Reality star Ashley Cain announced the arrival of his precious baby boy on Instagram yesterday (18 January).

The on-screen favourite, 33, broke the heartwarming news on Instagram with a sweet snap of his second child and revealing he shares a middle name with his late daughter, Azaylia.

Ashley became a father for the first time back in August 2020, after he welcomed baby girl Azaylia with now ex-girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee.

Eight weeks after the gorgeous tot was born, however, tragedy struck, and Ashley's daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

Azaylia sadly passed away at just eight months, and he and Safiyya subsequently called time on their relationship.

In December 2023, Ashley - famed for appearing on Ex On The Beach and recently taking part in ITV fundraiser The Full Monty - announced that he and a new, unnamed partner were expecting a child together, later revealing he was to have a son.

Instagram/@mrashleycain

And announcing the arrival of his little boy yesterday, former footballer Ashley paid tribute to Azaylia by revealing that both siblings will share the same middle name.

Captioning a snap of his newborn son wrapped up in hospital, he wrote: "Aliyas Diamond Cain - 16.01.24, 4:32am, 9lbs 3oz.

"I will love you, appreciate you, guide you and protect you with all of my heart, for the rest of my life & you will have the most beautiful guardian angel heaven holds watching over you and protecting you too."

Despite the joyous announcement, Ashley's news was quickly met with severe backlash from fans.

Instagram/@mrashleycain

Many of his followers branded his decision to give his son the same name as his late daughter 'disrespectful' due to the fact the TV star has previously revealed that the news of a new baby 'pained' ex Safiyya.

She, in turn, spoke out about the agonising news, before claiming that Ashley had actually asked her for another baby prior to his new relationship.

Safiyya, 36, previously told press: "I didn’t want a baby to think they’d been born because I wanted Azaylia. I wanted to fill a void. It had to be as a proper family.

"I know Azaylia would say to me, 'Mummy, you deserve that family, that wholesome unit.'"

Following her emotional admission, hundreds of social media users have hit out at Ashley online for his 'insensitive' baby name choice.

Instagram/@mrashleycain

"I don’t know how you thought this was okay.. all saf had left was her baby's name and you’ve taken that from her," one follower penned in the comments.

A second wrote: "Both so disrespectful!. I feel for Saf!!.. just plain cruel!.."

"How absolutely, disgustingly insensitive to Saf. Your true colours are showing. So disrespectful!!" penned a third.

Ashley has since broken his silence over his son's name, claiming his choice was unrelated to his past trauma.

"What the letter 'A' holds is a family tradition, being the first letter of my father's and all of my uncles first names," he wrote back in the comments.

"The name 'Diamond' is from my grandma and their mother. It's our family name along with Cain, it's our Vincentian roots, all the way from our small island and from our great people."