Strictly Come Dancing’s dangerous week of PR simply obtained a bit worse, with one of many present’s hottest judges now being investigated for a comment he made whereas working as a dancer on the present.
One of many UK’s hottest TV leisure exhibits with variations in additional than 60 territories around the globe, Strictly has weathered a mushrooming variety of claims from former contestants that the family-friendly, glad environment on display loved by tens of millions of viewers isn’t mirrored within the behaviour by the skilled dancers to their companions behind the scenes.
Now The Solar studies that one of many Strictly’s hottest faces, Anton Du Beke – who was a dancer on the present from its starting in 2004, earlier than being made a choose in 2021 – is dealing with recent criticism for his comment made in 2009 when he was competing on the present. When confronted along with his movie star companion Laila Rouass’s spray tan, he referred to as her “a p***” (a derogatory time period for somebody of south-Asian heritage) and Rouass walked off. Du Beke later apologized and stayed with the present.
The Solar studies that Rouass has obtained large help from followers on social media who traced the 2009 remark, and is “mentioned to be contemplating authorized motion.”
Such hypothesis will add to the BBC’s woes relating to the present in what was meant to be its celebratory 20th yr. Considered one of its hottest dancers Giovanni Pernice has departed after dealing with allegations of bullying in rehearsals, and final week one other Graziano Di Prima was sacked for “gross misconduct” after studies got here to mild that he had bodily and verbally abused his movie star companion throughout rehearsals.
The BBC has this week introduced new measures to safeguard the welfare of each professionals and celebrities, together with having a member of manufacturing employees in rehearsals always, in addition to a welfare officer readily available for each events.
