Strictly Come Dancing participant John Whaite has sent a strong message to the show as detractors.
After several of his co-stars, like Olympian Adam Peaty and former rugby union player Ugo Monye, spoke out against the horrible insults directed at Strictly contestants, the Bake Off champion turned to Instagram Stories.
“If you are trolling any of my Strictly buddies, or anyone else on the earth, let me ask you… What have you accomplished today to make yourself vulnerable?” Whaite inquired in his post.
“What did you do recently that was inspiring?” What did you accomplish today to get out of your comfort bubble?
“If the answer is ‘nothing,’ then shut up,” he said. “Do not pass judgement on someone until you have walked a distance in their (dance) shoes.”
Whaite and his dancing partner Johannes Radebe are five couples remaining in the competition for the Strictly Come Dancing crown.
Other quarter-finalists include BBC Breakfast anchor Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova, TV personality AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, and CBBC broadcaster Rhys Stephenson and his wife, Nancy Xu.
Whaite stated earlier this month that he sobbed during preparations for an intimate dance he was scheduled to perform with Radebe.
Earlier this month, the two — the programme is the first male same-sex partnership — did the Rumba to Sting’s “Shape of My Heart.”
“It is personal. I am not embarrassed to confess it. On the first day, Monday, when we danced it, I genuinely sobbed, “During a recent appearance on It Takes Two, Whaite said.
“Because we have done all these manly, forceful things, which have been fantastic, but to reveal a sensitive, emotional aspect is lovely finally.”
Strictly Come Dancing 2021 began airing on BBC One on Saturday nights, with results programmes on Sundays. Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two premieres on BBC Two on weekday nights at 6.30 p.m.
Read More: Netflix’s ‘In From the Cold’