COMEDIAN Daniel O'Reilly, whose Dapper Laughs persona caused controversy following a rape joke row, says he would never trivialise sexual violence because he knows victims affected by the crime.

The stand-up, who is coming to Glasgow's Campus bar to meet fans on April 2, vowed to retire the character last year when footage emerged of him telling an audience member during a live show that she was "gagging for a rape".

But in an exclusive interview with the Evening Times, Dan said he was forced to make the decision because the media had "hounded" his family and created "hatred".

Dan said: "Last year when I decided to retire Dapper Laughs I was under pressure from my family because of the media in the UK.

"People were turning up at the front door of my mother's house, calling my step-mum and step-dad's work...turning up at my sister's kids schools and really sort of hounding us."

After his dad, who was being treated for cancer, received "online hate", Dan said his family begged him to make it stop.

He said: "The whole thing was really down to media manipulation.

"They would say I said certain jokes on stage and that I was pro-rape and I liked to trivialise rape which I don't.

"And they took video footage and took it out of context, created this hatred that I literally had no other choice but to stop it."

Dan said he was repeating what the audience member said to him, rather than condoning sex crime.

He said he would never joke about sexual violence. He said: "I've been affected by rape. It's something that's affected my life, people that I know, and I'd never ever take it out of context."

The comedian's ITV2 show On the Pull was axed after a petition attracted 68,000 signatures.

He brought back his Laughs persona when supporters got in touch.

Dan says he has a "huge fanbase" in Scotland and cannot wait to come to Glasgow.

"The Scottish have got a better sense of humour sometimes than the English," he said.

"They're not as uptight and they're a little bit crazy especially when they've had a few drinks.

"So I'm looking forward to it."

Dan has launched a new online sitcom. He admits he has "toned down" Dapper and wants to make fun of himself.

He said the backlash had affected his career "so I certainly won't be antagonising anyone".