Strictly Come Dancing's Jayde Adams says women on the show treated unfairly
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jayde Adams has said the women starring in the show are subjected to more public criticism than the men.
The 37-year-old comedian and her dance partner Karen Hauer have become the latest couple to be eliminated from the BBC competition after public voting landed them in the dance-off against CBBC star Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
Adams told Rylan on spin-off show It Takes Two: "I will say, women specifically on this show get it in the neck [on social media]. Whether it’s me, whether it’s Karen, whether it’s Shirley, the women get it worse than the men.”
Read more: Strictly star Jayde Adams slams 'stupid' body-shamers over weight comments
Speaking about the abuse she revealed from trolls the plus-size star said: "The reason I tackle it the way I do is because for every horrible comment there’s a whole bunch of them that are lovely… I just hope with my resilience I can show that stick and stones may break our bones but names will never hurt us. I really hope that’s something that I’ve left as a legacy."
Adams added how proud she was of her energetic Charleston, which featured multiple lifts of partner Hauer, as she has an injured ACL ligament in her knee.
She said: "I just knew if we were up against Molly and Carlos it was bye bye Jayde Adams, because I am a woman in her 30s whose got a reconstructed ACL babes! I did what I could, I did my best!”
Adams had previously spoken out in response to trolls who had criticised her taking part in the show.
She wrote in a message on Instagram: "Them: She shouldn't be on Strictly because she's fat.
"Me: If I stay on Strictly, I'll get less fat."
She went on: "If there was something that wrong with me, I wouldn’t be able to dance six hours every day and lift Karen.
"Because of how stupid this logic is, I suspect their issues aren’t to do with me at all. But women always get it in the neck don’t they.
"I’m not ignoring it, I’m addressing it. The more I show resilience to it, the more other people will be able to and that’s useful I think."
Head judge Shirley Ballas previously appealed to viewers to show her respect after being trolled over her judging decisions.
The 62-year-old dance teacher had shared some of the abusive messages she received online after saying she would have wanted to save The One Show's Richie Anderson over former X Factor star Fleur East in week three.
One message called her a "c***" while another said she was an "unpleasant, sour-faced old dear".
She said: "This is the language and messages I get along with other disgusting low life messages. Because they think they are multiple British open to the world champions and qualified to judge. Very sad indeed."
She later added: "I have received many apologies over the weekend regarding hurtful messages I’ve received on social media. All apologies are accepted and from now on let’s all respect each other and enjoy the show. Love to you all."
In 2021, Strictly contestant Tilly Ramsay - daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay - spoke out after LBC DJ Steve Allen called her "chubby" on his radio show.
Ramsay said: "I try not to read and listen to comments about negativity however recently being called out on a national radio station by a 67-year-old man is a step too far.
"I won't tolerate people who think it's okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone's weight and appearance."
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom received 860 complaints about LBC DJ Steve Allen's "chubby" remark, but cleared him saying his listeners were used to him being provocative.
Read more: Strictly's Jayde Adams cut out of too-tight body stocking minutes before dancing
It added that LBC should take greater care to protect the mental health of young people in future.
Watch: Jayde Adams gets stuck in Strictly costume in behind-the-scenes clip