Toyah Willcox was the latest celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing, but a comment she made on Monday’s spin-off show left some viewers’ jaws on the floor.
While others have interpreted her joke in a nicer way, many fumed online as they believed she had made a “nasty” dig at comedian Chris McCausland, the show’s first-ever blind contestant who is continuously impressing the judges and viewers.
Chatting to host Fleur East on chat show It Takes Two as she appeared alongside her dance partner Neil Jones, Willcox had some choice words as her interview wrapped up.
Laughing and clapping, the singer pointed a finger to the camera as she commented: “If you don’t want to do a dance-off, get rid of Chris!”
East and Jones exchanged awkward glances in response before Jones shared a positive interpretation of the remark, stating: “I think she has chosen her winner already.”
However, viewers weren’t as willing to view the comment in the same light, and it didn’t take long for fans to fume on X, labelling the 66-year-old “nasty”.
However, McCausland, 47, shared his own response as he defended the It’s a Mystery hit-maker.
Taking to his own X account, he assured his followers Willcox’s joke was “a compliment” as he wished her well.
In view of his 29,000 followers, he penned: “All I can say is that @toyahofficial has been nothing but beautiful and supportive and what she said on Takes Two was funny and an incredible bl***y compliment.
“It’s been such a joy and a privilege Toya. Lots of love, enjoy the surfing! X.” (sic)
Fans were quick to praise the comedian’s “gracious” response, but there was still a split in the responses regarding what Willcox meant by the quip.
Responding to McCausland’s post, one penned: “Just proves what kind of person you are taking it as a compliment you are a better person than me! ‘Keep dancing’ Chris you are putting the work in and it shows!”
“Gracious,” another shared as a third remarked: “Well if you’re okay then that’s all that matters. just what she said didn’t come out right…. lot of people want you to win!! me too with dianne. she deserves to win finally after all the heartbreak for many years.”
Others agreed with his take though and argued the singer didn’t mean anything malicious.
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“Thank you for this, it is exactly how I took Toyah’s comment to be meant – a compliment to you. Shame others have been so quick to be nasty to her!” one person wrote.
“Hi Chris, that’s what I was thinking and that’s what I said. It did look like a great compliment and it was well deserved as you ‘floated like a butterfly, danced like a bee’ (sorry Mr Ali) Great work Chris/Toyah,” another shared. (sic)
Elsewhere in the interview, Willcox didn’t address the backlash the show received after the judges saved her over Tom Dean in the week two dance-off, but stated “it meant a lot” that she hadn’t been the first to leave.
