Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole is reportedly "gutted" after facing backlash over remarks he made about Amy Dowden. The criticism followed comments in which Cole suggested Amy had not "been up to the challenge" of training another celebrity.
Backlash Over Comments on Amy Dowden
Cole, who appeared on Strictly between 2004 and 2017, faced criticism after his remarks about Amy, who was paired with Thomas Skinner on Strictly last year and became the first celebrity duo to be eliminated. She also departed the competition earlier this year alongside celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton.
The Welsh dancer has remained a firm favourite amongst viewers since joining Strictly in 2017. She was compelled to withdraw from the show while undergoing cancer treatment after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in May 2023, before being informed she had "no evidence of disease" in February 2024.
Upon her return to Strictly the following year, partnered with JLS singer JB Gill, Amy was forced to withdraw due to a leg injury and was subsequently replaced by Lauren Oakley.
Cole's Remarks and Amy's Response
Following these recent setbacks on Strictly Come Dancing, Brendan stated: "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," reports Wales Online.
He continued: "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."
He encountered fierce criticism from her supporters, with Amy lauded for what seemed to be her response when she blew a kiss towards the camera to Mariah Carey's Obsessed, stating: "Why are you so obsessed with me?"
Her caption declared: "If you know, you know," while she also incorporated the hashtags "be kind" and "in a world where you can be anything, be kind".
James Jordan Defends Brendan Cole
After supporters rallied behind her, former professional James Jordan has now suggested Brendan is "gutted" and the criticism was "blown all out of proportion".
He told Mail Online: "It wasn't what people think; he never meant it in that way, and he's actually quite upset about the whole thing. It's all been taken out of proportion, and yeah, it's a shame, because he was asked a question about them leaving and just said that he didn't think the choreography was that good.
"And then people were saying, 'Oh, she's a cancer survivor,' and it's horrendous what she's been through, and she does amazing things for Crohn's and cancer and this and that. But hang on a minute... He was just asked about her dancing. He wasn't asked about any of that. So this makes him look really, really bad when he didn't mean it in the way that it's now been all blown out of proportion, which is a shame, really."
James added that "in hindsight", Brendan could have messaged Amy to say his comments hadn't come "from a bad place", noting he felt "gutted" about the situation.
Support for Amy Dowden
After Amy's post, she was hailed as "iconic" by fellow professional Carlos Gu, while dance partner Chris Appleton responded: "Love u."
"Beautiful inside and out," one supporter observed, as Jess Wright remarked: "Absolutely girl. You are AMAZING in every way," while Strictly star Bethany Antonia commented: "You're incredible. This is iconic and we all [heart emoji] you."
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
