Ryan Thomas defends daughter Scarlett's decision not to sit GCSEs amid backlash
Scarlett Thomas has been inundated with 'disgusting' comments after admitting she did not sit her GCSEs.
Ryan Thomas has hit back at critics who questioned his decision to allow his daughter Scarlett to skip her GCSE exams, stating it's no-one else's business.
The 15-year-old actress raised eyebrows last week when she revealed she hadn't sat her exams. She expressed her curiosity about what her results could have been as other students received their grades.
In an Instagram post, she wrote: "Watching everyone get there GCSE results today wondering if I could've had good results but I will forever wonder."
The post, which was accompanied by Phoebe Bridgers' song Sidelines, also included a congratulatory message to students.
She added: "Well done everyone you all should be beyond proud whatever results you got," reports the Mirror.
This drew criticism, prompting a response from her parents, Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas, who starred together as teens in Coronation Street. Scarlett is currently starring in Waterloo Road.
Ryan responded sharply to one critic who deemed the decision 'unacceptable', arguing that Scarlett should have taken the exams instead of focusing on her acting career.
He retorted: "Is it even anyone's business or concern though?"
Despite not taking any GCSEs, Scarlett doesn't seem to have much to worry about. Reports suggest that the young actress is set to earn up to £2 million before her 18th birthday, thanks to her significant social media presence.
Aside from her role as Izzy Charles in the BBC school drama, Scarlett has amassed a significant social media following, boasting 204,000 followers on TikTok and 142,000 on Instagram, with her popularity seemingly on an upward trajectory.
PR expert Lynn Carratt spoke to MailOnline about the Thomas family's savvy use of social media to advance their careers, describing them as a "close-knit" unit. She said: "Each member is talented in their own right.
"Scarlett often appears in videos with her dad and uncles, showcasing her singing and acting skills. With both parents in TV, their talent has clearly rubbed off on Scarlett. She comes across as a confident and likeable girl who is close to her family.
"I believe Scarlett and her younger cousin Teddy are poised for fabulous opportunities in the entertainment industry, and I can see Scarlett potentially joining a girl band as she gets older."
Her father, Ryan, 41, previously stated that his daughter 'won't be getting a free ride' when discussing her role on Waterloo Road.
He told The Sun: "She worked damn hard to get that job, and people need to recognise that she's a talented girl – she's up against other people and she's not getting a free ride.
"She has to go through the same process as everyone else – it was between her and somebody else. It wasn't like, 'This is a Thomas, she's going to get this job'."
Ryan and Scarlett's mother Tina, 42, were together from 2003 to 2009 and welcomed Scarlett in 2008 before separating a year later.
Since then, Ryan has popped the question to Lucy and they've become parents to Roman and Lilah. Tina is also a mum to son Beau, from her previous marriage to Adam Crofts.