Amber Davies has spoken out about the criticism she faced during her time on Strictly Come Dancing, claiming the 'nasty comments' came primarily from older viewers. The former Love Island star, who performed in West End musicals before joining the show, faced backlash as the competition progressed, with some accusing her of having an unfair advantage.
Davies, who was a last-minute replacement for injured Dani Dyer, said the negative sentiment online 'genuinely gets worse' with each series. She told The Guardian: 'The nasty comments weren't actually coming from the younger audience. I'm a woman. I am ambitious. And confidence comes across as being stuck-up.'
The 2025 series saw Davies reach the final, which was won by Lioness Karen Carney. During the competition, her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin urged viewers to 'be kind' after she received particularly harsh backlash for beating Lewis Cope in the quarter-final dance off.
Davies acknowledged her previous dance experience but stressed that musical theatre is the 'polar opposite' of the dances required on Strictly. 'I feel like I've worked just as hard as the other finalists,' she said. Despite the criticism, she described her time on the show as 'magical' and said she is 'heartbroken it's over'.
Davies will next appear as Elle Woods in a touring production of Legally Blonde the Musical, starting 7 February.
