A DOMESTIC abuse charity has slammed the BBC in the wake of the Wynne Evans and Katya Jones Strictly “grope” scandal.
The pair say the incident was an inside joke — but Women’s Aid told The Sun: “Inappropriate behaviour towards women is no laughing matter.”
Strictly’s Wynne Evans and Katya Jones look downcast as they arrive for a training session in Cardiff[/caption]
On Saturday Wynne was seen putting his arm around Katya’s waist[/caption]
Katya was then seen removing Wynne’s hand[/caption]
Katya removed Wynne’s hand from her stomach after he slid it across from her waist and declined to high-five him on Saturday’s show.
The pair have been rapped over the knuckles by BBC bosses for the incident that was broadcast live and has become a viral sensation.
On Tuesday the pair looked downcast as they arrived at their training session in Cardiff as angry viewers called for their axe.
Both stars insisted there was nothing sinister behind Katya’s frosty reaction.
GoCompare crooner Wynne wrote: “We were just messing around. We really are amazing friends.”
But Women’s Aid added: “With an epidemic of misogyny and violence against women and girls in the UK, we need a media culture where women feel safe to speak up, where sexually inappropriate conduct is not trivialised or joked about.
“It’s important we challenge inappropriate ‘jokes’ so we don’t continue normalising toxic attitudes that cultivate these forms of gender-based abuse.”
On Monday’s BBC2 Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, Katya insisted it was all a set-up.
The Russian pro, 35, who has danced on Strictly since 2016, said: “Quite frankly, I can’t bear sitting here watching this man being portrayed as someone he’s not.
“In fact it couldn’t be further away from the truth.
“So I have to make absolutely clear, that this whole incident with the hand and the high-five on Saturday night, it was an inside joke between Wynne and I.
“Was it a silly joke? Yes. Was it a bad joke? Yes.
“However, it was a joke and even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is totally nonsense.
“Those that have doubts, you guys have got it wrong.
“So hopefully this will be the end of it.”
Opera star Wynne, 52, added: “I’ve watched it back and I can see how people might have misinterpreted it.”
The pair have been rapped over the knuckles by BBC bosses for the incident[/caption]
Behind the scenes, Beeb bosses are furious about the incident, but seem to believe Katya and Wynne’s explanation that it was a gag both were complicit in.
Welfare teams reportedly checked on both at the time.
Yesterday dancer Vito Coppola offered an insight into how the gaffe might have come about, revealing the cast are always teasing each other.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning with celeb dance partner, Miranda star Sarah Hadland, he said: “The key is to be yourself, the fun . . . I’m constantly pranking Sarah here.
“I’m constantly waiting behind a door (and jump out).”
Strictly 2024 pairings
Here’s who is matched with who this series…
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
