Oti Mabuse has taken aim at former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer AJ Pritchard as he competes in a dancing competition across the pond, saying he 'rubbed a lot of people the wrong way'.
Oti's candid remarks on TikTok
AJ, 31, was a pro dancer on Strictly from 2016 to 2019, with his best result being a fourth-place finish with gymnast Claudia Fragapane. Oti, 35, won the Glitterball Trophy twice on the BBC series and is currently head judge on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars. It was recently revealed that AJ would be taking part in Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, a competition where professional dancers vie for a spot on the American show, overseen by Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas and her son Mark Ballas.
A fan asked Oti if it was 'fair' for AJ to compete given his Strictly background. In a TikTok video, Oti responded: 'I like this one actually 'cause it's asking about AJ. That guy is so controversial. It's so funny.' She then addressed comments AJ has made about Strictly: 'I don't even know how to word this. And he might have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with his personality, right? We can admit that as well. Like, him coming out in public and saying he wants British dancers on a British show because Strictly is Britain…' She paused, holding her hand up to the camera.
AJ's controversial comments about British dancers
In a recent interview with The Sun, AJ said: 'I think, upsettingly, I would love to see more British dancers on the show. We're in the UK, I'm proud to be British, and there are so many fantastic boys and girls out there who would love the opportunity. So really kind of regionally, it would support the country that we are proud to be. I would love to see that, personally.'
Oti countered: 'The most popular pros on Strictly have not been British. I'm talking Aljaz, I'm talking Giovanni, I'm talking Janette. Even now, Vito, Nikita, Alexis, Katya. Even back in the day, we're going Vincent Simone, we're going Ola Jordan, we're going Kristina Rihanoff, we're going Natalie Lowe. Those are the legends. And they're not British. So you can imagine that for a lot of people, that would have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. And also, Strictly is different. Out of all the brands, all the brands. No, we are global. Our professionals are global because that global mixture is what makes us beautiful and is what makes us special.'
Importance of diversity on Strictly
Oti emphasized the importance of celebrating different cultures, noting dancers from Italy, Ukraine, Africa, and Australia, and highlighted that Australian dancer Dianne is 'the most popular pro today'. She added about AJ: 'Not British, and so he's gone off and left the biggest brand, and just been really horrible about it. So that might rub a lot of people the wrong way. He left, and he decided, okay, maybe now I've matured, I've grown, and I'd like another opportunity. Do I think he should now try to go for the American one? Yeah, maybe that one might work out better for him. Maybe his personality might be a little bit more palatable there.'
Oti stressed she won't criticize AJ for pursuing his dreams: 'I don't think that we should feel a certain way about people trying to reach their dreams. I really don't think we should be offended by people having goals and going for their goals.' However, she brought up AJ's history with Shirley Ballas, claiming the Strictly judge 'has been one of AJ's main teachers since he was a tiny tot'. She noted that in the UK, it is well documented that Shirley taught AJ, which likely helped him get on the show.
Oti's perspective on DWTS opportunities
Having come to Strictly from the German show Let's Dance, Oti acknowledged it would be 'absolutely insane' if she weren't grateful for the opportunity. She also shared that many pro dancers might find the US show appealing due to the opportunities it offers: 'There are over 50 Dancing with the Stars all over the world. It would be crazy to think that some of these kids do not look at America as the mothership, and they see the routines, they see the pros, they see the opportunities the pros have.'
Returning to AJ, Oti told her followers: 'But yeah, this one, if he wins it, we also don't know if he will win it. I don't think we should hold anything against him. The only thing is, will his personality be palatable for an American audience? That's it, because it's also you gotta get on with people, right? That's the only thing is will he get on with his fellow contestants and later on the fellow pros? But other than that, I wish him good luck. I genuinely, genuinely wish him good luck, and I think go on, AJ, smash it.'
Fan reactions highlight hypocrisy
Several people commented on the irony of AJ wanting more British dancers on Strictly while auditioning for the American show. One user wrote: 'Sooo only British pros on Strictly…. But it's ok for him (as a Brit) to be on American DWTS? Sounds quite hypocritical of him!' Another added: 'What makes me laugh tho is he said that about strictly but he now is trying to go on the American one when he isn't American.' Oti responded with heart emojis to a comment that read: 'Strictly wouldn't be strictly if they didn't have different dancers from all over the world.'
Metro has contacted AJ Pritchard and Shirley Ballas for comment. Strictly Come Dancing returns later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
