RTÉ radio presenter, Jonathan Rachel Clynch is said to be “overwhelmed” and “touched” by the support he has received since he was outed as gender fluid by a tabloid.

The 44 year-old presenter reportedly told network bosses that he identified as gender fluid – explaining that he will now be going by the name Jonathan Rachel Clynch and occasionally presenting as a woman.

Clynch was due to speak about his identity on The Marian Finucane Show on Saturday morning – however he cancelled last second after the news was leaked and the story was reported on the cover of The Irish Star.

Finucane explained on air, “After today’s front page, Jonathan wants to speak about his decision on his own terms.

“He was to come in and talk to us here today about the whole thing and to explain it and how his life and that will be changed for the better for him now, but he only found out yesterday that this would be in the papers today.”

She added that he would not let “any newspaper dictate when he would or he wouldn’t talk about himself.”

A source told The Independent that he was “overwhelmed” and “moved” by all the well wishes, adding, “he is going through a process at the moment and will speak about it in his own time and he hopes everyone will be respectful of that.”

Since Saturday, support for the presenter has come flooding in.

I have so much admiration for Jonathan Rachel Clynch. There are few things more impressive than bravery and authenticity.

— Aoife Kelleher (@aoifekelleher) September 13, 2015

Jonathan Rachel Clynch deserves nothing but support and praise. We all have right to lead authentic lives and not face ignorance, prejudice. — Adam Long (@adamlong80) September 13, 2015

Congratulations, Jonathan Rachel Clynch, may you continue to smash the gender binary with pride.

— Emer McHugh (@emeramchugh) September 13, 2015

Good luck Jonathan Rachel – a progressive decision by @rte who are ‘supportive’ of presenter’s decision http://t.co/ErWU7bMJlF — Samantha Long (@SamanthaELong) September 12, 2015

The Jonathan Rachel Clynch and Jenny Greene stories (both RTE employees ironically) showing #MarRef making a difference. Well done Ireland ????

— Darren Geraghty (@GeraghtyDarren) September 14, 2015

RTÉ released a statement since the reports saying, “as an employer and organisation RTÉ encourages diversity and equality” adding that Clynch is a “valued member of staff and a highly-respected journalist.”

Clynch is currently on annual leave and will be returning to RTÉ in October.