The BBC has received 206 complaints from viewers after an edit in Strictly Come Dancing sparked an "anti-trans" row. The complaints, revealed in a published document detailing recent complaints, fall under Stage 1. The document states the main issue for complaint was: "Unhappy Bethany Antonia's TShirt 'Protect The Dolls' was blurred out/felt it showed anti trans bias."
What Happened During the Show
Actor Bethany Antonia, a contestant on this year's Strictly Come Dancing paired with professional dancer Nancy Xu, was shown during a live show wearing a white t-shirt with "PROTECT THE DOLLS" written on it during rehearsals. Later in the show, the BBC edited the top to make it appear as if it was plain white.
The phrase "protect the dolls" is a pro-trans slogan first written on a top from fashion designer Conner Ives in 2025. Since then, it has been worn by celebrities including Madonna and Pedro Pascal, and has helped raise money for charities. The term traces back to the 1980s Black and Latina underground ballroom scene in New York City, where "doll" was used as a term of solidarity for transgender women.
BBC and Contestant Responses
At the time, a BBC spokesperson said: "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 responded to the backlash at the time and defended the BBC, saying: "I think I made a choice to wear that t-shirt without considering the fact that it was linked to a charity, and that it was linked to what some people consider a brand. The BBC had to do what they had to do when they edited it out, to keep it fair for everybody."
The complaints were logged as part of the BBC's standard complaints procedure, with the issue now recorded in the published document covering recent viewer feedback.
