The BBC has issued a statement after Strictly Come Dancing fans complained about an editing move they branded "absolutely despicable". Despite the controversy, the broadcaster said "appropriate steps" were taken.
Earlier this month, the BBC complaints page confirmed it had received reports about the blurring of a message on a T-shirt in a training-room clip from the show. A video shared on social media showed Bethany Antonia wearing a T-shirt with the words "PROTECT THE DOLLS" visible. Later in the same programme, the slogan was obscured, leading some viewers to accuse the broadcaster of censorship. Around 206 complaints were made to the broadcaster, reports the Mirror.
BBC Statement on Editorial Guidelines
The BBC said its approach was consistent with editorial guidelines on branding and slogans in entertainment programmes, regardless of the message involved. A BBC statement read: "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."
The phrase "Protect the Dolls" first appeared on a garment created by fashion designer Conner Ives in 2025 and is a message of support for trans people.
Viewer Criticism and Bethany's Defense
Among those criticising the edit, one viewer wrote: "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 blurred out the T-Shirt completely. Absolutely despicable." Another added: "The decision to digitally scrub the 'Protect the Dolls' slogan from Bethany Antonia's T-shirt during Strictly Come Dancing is a shameful and cowardly act of censorship."
Bethany defended the decision, saying the edit was "fair for everybody". Speaking to Digital Spy, she said: "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."
Bethany's Strictly Journey
Bethany is partnered with Nancy Xu in this series and has spoken about how much being in a same-sex pairing means to her. The House of the Dragon star said: "When I watched Nicola [Adams] and Katya [Jones] do it for the first time and be the first same-sex pairing, I wasn't out to everyone in my life. Watching them do the show made it so much easier for me to have that conversation with people in my life... It was so important to me to make sure that if I did Strictly, I got to do it with a woman."
Strictly Come Dancing airs at 6.30pm on BBC One this Saturday, October 31.
