Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has responded to criticism from former Strictly star Brendan Cole, who questioned her performance on the BBC show.
The 36-year-old had been taking part in series 24 of Strictly Come Dancing with hairstylist Chris Appleton, though the duo were eliminated in the opening round. This year's competition was Amy's third series since her return to the programme following treatment for grade three breast cancer earlier in the 2020s. During last year's series, she was also voted off while partnered with former Apprentice candidate Thomas Skinner.
Brendan Cole's criticism
Her departure from this year's competition, however, prompted criticism from ex-Strictly professional Brendan Cole, who appeared on the programme from 2004 until 2017. That was also the year Amy made her debut, becoming Strictly's first Welsh professional dancer, reports Wales Online.
Mr Cole was critical of Amy when speaking to Sky Vegas, stating: "To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge. Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion.
"I don't think Amy's been doing a very good job for the last few years and she's been out first for the last few years. One can do the maths on that."
Amy's response
Amy has since responded to Mr Cole's comments. Speaking at the Woman of the Year Awards, she praised her celebrity partner on Strictly in an apparent reference to Mr Cole's remarks, though she did not name him explicitly.
She said: "Chris Appleton did very well. He came into this competition as a non-dancer, he was very nervous and every celebrity is on their own journey and it's important to remember that. What are we teaching the younger generation if we're being unkind and making personal remarks towards other people?"
She has also posted a cryptic message on Instagram which some interpreted as a reference to Mr Cole's observations. The clip showed Amy lip-syncing the opening line of Mariah Carey's track Obsessed: "Why are you so obsessed with me?" before blowing a kiss towards the camera. Alongside the clip, Amy included the caption: "If you know, you know."
Support from fellow pros
Fellow Strictly professionals Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Kevin Clifton and Aljaž Škorjanec were among those expressing solidarity in the comments, alongside Stacey Dooley.
As well as responding to Brendan Cole's remarks about her routine, Amy has admitted she was disheartened by her early departure from this year's series. Speaking on Strictly's It Takes Two, she acknowledged being "gutted that we didn't get the chance to continue".
Meanwhile, Chris also praised Amy for supporting him throughout the competition. He said: "I'd literally go out there shaking and there's times I didn't know if I could do it but I did it and I would just look at Amy and see her smiling and knew she was with me."
