Wynne Evans Addresses Backlash Over Awkward Strictly Come Dancing Moment
Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans has spoken out after social media users speculated about an awkward interaction with his dance partner, Katya Jones, during Saturday night's show.
The moment, which involved Evans being seemingly rejected in a high-five and Jones moving his hand from her waist, sparked widespread conversation online. Evans has since expressed his frustration and sadness over the misunderstanding, stating that it was all part of an "inside joke" between the two.
Evans and Jones speak out about incident, saying it was a joke that got misinterpreted
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales on Monday, Evans said he was "absolutely heartbroken" by the reaction to the incident. He emphasised that he and Jones have a close friendship and that the moment was never intended to cause discomfort.
“We thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny. It has been totally misinterpreted,” Evans explained.
He added that both he and Jones have addressed the situation and apologised in a video posted after the show.
Jones, in response to the viral clip of her pushing Evans' hand away, took to Instagram to clarify the situation.
"The hand incident that happened on Saturday night was an inside joke," she said. "The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in any way is complete nonsense."
Jones emphasised her pride in Evans' progress as a dancer and urged fans to focus on his performance instead.
Despite the online backlash, Evans remains positive about his experience on the show. "I'm having the best time of my life," he said, adding that he hopes the controversy doesn't overshadow his journey on Strictly.
The pair’s tango to Abba’s "Money, Money, Money" earned them a respectable 34 points, landing them joint second on the leaderboard.
The BBC has not officially commented on the situation, but a source from the show confirmed that the welfare team had checked in with Evans and Jones and no further action is planned.
The incident comes during a landmark season for Strictly, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The show has implemented changes this year, including the presence of chaperones during rehearsals, following previous accusations of bullying on the show.
