BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans say 'it's disheartening' amid tears for Tasha Ghouri
Strictly Come Dancing fans said it was 'disheartening' as they heard about Tasha Ghouri's struggles following her exit from Love Island. The reality star is currently competing in the BBC One dance contest with Aljaz Skorjanec.
The pair have impressed since the very start of the series. During week seven of the hit dance show on Saturday night (November 2), Tasha performed a routine from the heart, which earned her an impressive score of 39 our of a possible 40 - the joint highest score of the night.
During the first-ever icons week, in which the remaining 10 celebrities and their professional dance partners performed a routine accompanied by a track from a legendary singer or band, Tasha and Aljaz decided to celebrate P!nk by dancing their couple's choice to What About Us.
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Talking about the importance of her dance and song choice in a VT, Tasha broke down in tears as she made a heartbreaking admission. She said: "This song is about feeling not seen or unheard. I was born completely deaf in both ears, and my parents found out when I was about 12-months-old.
"Being born into a hearing family was definitely difficult, they’re the ones who had to really adapt their lifestyle around me, they started learning sign language which was beautiful", adding that they took her to dance classes from an early age where she was able to "let go" and "just be Tasha".
The Strictly star continued: "Two years ago, I went on a reality TV show, I was the first contestant with a cochlear implant and I really wanted to go on to show that even though I had a disability, I could still find love.
"When I left the show, I remember my dad sat me down and he looked at me, straight, and said Tasha there's a lot of horrific stuff that was written about you, especially on social media. There were videos made about my voice, the way I speak, it became a trend at one point."
Tasha then broke down in tears as she added: "It really hit me hard as I wanted to go on for representation and I felt like I failed not just myself but the whole deaf community." She added: "I said you know what, I'm not gonna let them get me down, I'm going to use my platform and educate people."
And the comments left fans rushing to show her love and support. @RyanTheSoapking said: "For all those people who bullied Tasha on Love Island you need to take a hard look at yourselves. That routine was sensational and Tasha has put the haters to shame #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly."
@CloudWhiz90 replied: "I completely agree! It’s disheartening to see Tasha face bullying, especially when she’s such a talented performer. Her routine was sensational and truly showcased her abilities. It’s time to focus on celebrating her achievements instead! #Strictly." @parmacorderoy shared: "I remember seeing all the negative comments when Tasha was on love island, I felt so much for Tasha and her family! I’m so happy she got to tell her story and showing everyone that having disability dosent stop you from achieving your dreams."
@thedrummerattheback51 posted: "Absolutely incredible Tasha & Aljaz. Tasha's VT was absolutely heatbreaking. Perhaps ppl will think twice before commenting negatively as you never know how such nasty comments effect someone's mental health #bekind." @jacrockinsta added: "I literally forgot I was watching a celebrity and thought I was just watching two professionals! Incredible! and thank you for representing those of us with disabilities Tasha, you’ve done us all very proud and I found your words on your VT so inspiring."