John Whaite slams critic for ‘vitriolic’ comments about Giovanni Pernice & partner Richie | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

John Whaite, 33, has taken to Instagram to slam a critic who wrote an article bashing the latest season of Strictly Come Dancing for being the “BBC’s latest box-ticking exercise.” The former Great British Bake Off winner addressed his 304,000 followers as he called out the columnist for her comments comparing paralympian Ellie Symmonds to last series’ winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, as well as her comments about Giovanni Pernice and his celebrity partner Richie Anderson. 

Addressing his fans, he filmed a short clip of himself as he sat in his car and shared his views on the critics’ comments, which he said gave him a “sleepless night”. 

He said: “(The article) gave me a bit of a sleepless night because it directly compares my partnership with Johannes to that of Richie and Giovanni and it also compares Ellie to Rose. 

“So she’s comparing the same sex and disabilities and using the comparisons to say how woke strictly is this year. 

“She says that we were natural and beautiful enough and the other two weren’t, and I don’t understand why. 

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“Worse still, someone from a minority group could read those poisonous words and turn on themselves.

“Let’s start putting these fires out with a calm sense of kindness and truth.

“And if Allison argues that it is indeed solely about the dancing, then I’d have to ask why single out the minority groups? 

“Review them all, if the dancing is what’s upsetting you.”

Rose, in response, took to her Instagram stories and shared a screenshot of John’s video and wrote: “Please have a look at John’s story… 

“Thank you for speaking up about this @john_whaite.”

She directed her comments at those who think TV is “too woke”.

The dancer hit out at these people as being “too privileged” to notice the benefits of the progressive show.