The BBC has released a statement following complaints from Strictly Come Dancing viewers about a trans rights t-shirt being removed from Saturday night's (October 10) programme. This comes as a fresh series of the popular dancing competition has commenced on BBC.
Actress Bethany Antonia is competing on this year's series, partnered with professional dancer Nancy Xu. During last night's broadcast, footage showed Bethany wearing a white t-shirt bearing the words "PROTECT THE DOLLS" during training sessions. However, later in the programme, the BBC edited the garment to make it look like a plain white top.
Viewers react to the edit
The phrase "protect the dolls" is a pro-trans message which first appeared on clothing by fashion designer Conner Ives in 2025. It has subsequently been worn by famous figures including Madonna and Pedro Pascal, and has contributed to fundraising for charitable organisations.
The expression originates from the 1980s Black and Latina underground ballroom culture in New York City, where "doll" served as a term of solidarity for transgender women.
In a social media post, account @SuperTV stated: "Bethany wore a T-Shirt that said 'Protect the Dolls' during #strictly rehearsals. After posting a video, the BBC quietly replaced it with a new one that doesn't show her from the front. During the show, they actually blurred out the T-Shirt completely. Absolutely despicable."
BBC statement
Commenters have since urged the BBC to "do better" while someone else said: "Deeply disappointed. But unfortunately not surprised".
A statement has since been issued by BBC spokesperson saying: "As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question."
Bethany on her same-sex partnership
Bethany recently spoke out about the importance of her same-sex partnership with Nancy on the show. She told Radio Times: "It feels like the biggest privilege in the world.
"I have been quite open about this, but watching Nicola [Adams] and Katya [Jones] do this in 2020 was a huge part of my life. It was a huge part of watching people in my family accept this beautiful show that we'd watched for years and years and years, and see this new way of the girls doing it together, and then being so accepting and exciting about it made me feel proud."
Bethany explained that she had thought to herself if she ever gets the chance to appear on Strictly, "it has to be with a woman", adding: "And so now it just feels like I can't believe that we're here and we're doing it. And it was a thing that I talked into existence, so it feels like a real privilege."
Strictly Come Dancing Results airs Sunday, October 11 on BBC One at 7.10pm.
