A professional Strictly dancer has come to the defense of her dance partner after a clip that went viral led many to speculate he had made her feeling uneasy.
During the performance on Saturday evening, Welsh opera vocalist Wynne Evans placed his hand around the waist of Katya Jones, which she subsequently pushed away.
This now-infamous moment occurred as host Claudia Winkleman announced the opening of the voting lines for the week’s episode.
The incident sparked a flurry of posts on social media, fueling assumptions that Jones was uncomfortable during the exchange.
Wynne Evans. File pic: PA
Another clip of the duo soon became viral as Evans, the Welsh opera singer, attempted to high-five Jones, only to be turned down.
Following their rise in popularity on social media, they jointly shared a video stating that the high-five incident was merely a “playful joke.”
Evans, known for his role in the operatic Go Compare commercials, mentioned in the caption of the post, “We were just joking around. We truly are fantastic friends.”
In response, Jones has addressed the footage of her pushing Evans’ hand away from her waist.
“Happy Sunday everyone,” she expressed in a video shared on Instagram.
“I must clarify something distinctly. The hand incident that occurred on Saturday night was an inside – a rather silly, very silly – inside joke shared between Wynne and me.
“The notion that it made me feel uncomfortable or upset me in any manner is utterly absurd.
“It’s quite ridiculous actually. Now, can we shift our attention to how wonderfully he’s performing and the incredible dancer he’s becoming?”
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A welfare team has also reached out to the duo, as confirmed by the PA news agency, and no additional measures are anticipated.
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The pair performed the tango to ABBA’s “Money, Money, Money” during Saturday’s program, earning a commendable score of 34 points.
This season commemorates the 20th anniversary of Strictly, featuring a fresh cast of celebrities and alterations, including chaperones being present “at all times” during rehearsals, following several allegations of bullying linked to the show.
This came as DIY SOS star Nick Knowles was the third celebrity eliminated from the 20th anniversary series of Strictly Come Dancing after the results show on Sunday night.
