Professional dancer Amy Dowden has defended her approach to public criticism after former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole questioned her performance following her elimination from the competition. Dowden addressed his remarks in an interview, emphasizing kindness, positive role modeling, and her responsibilities to young dancers at her academy.
Dowden and her celebrity partner, hairstylist Chris Appleton, became the first couple eliminated from the BBC competition in October following Movie Week. The result marked the second consecutive year Dowden had left the contest as the first professional dancer to be eliminated, following her partnership with business figure Thomas Skinner.
Brendan Cole’s Criticism and Dowden’s Response
Cole questioned whether Dowden had fulfilled the demands of her professional role during an appearance on Sky Vegas, suggesting she had not been up to the challenge of training celebrities in recent years. His remarks prompted widespread support for the Welsh dancer online.
Speaking at the Pride of Britain Awards, Dowden explained why she avoids personal attacks and prioritizes the example she sets for others. She noted that Cole had not reached out to her privately despite having her contact details, stating that the decent course of action would have been to get in touch directly rather than air criticisms publicly.
When asked about the motivation behind his comments, Dowden offered a pointed response, accusing him of seeking attention. She also noted that some of the headlines generated by the remarks proved upsetting, particularly given her recent personal health journey.
Dowden initially responded to the critique on social media by sharing a dressing-room video where she blew a kiss and mimed along to Mariah Carey’s track “Obsessed,” captioning the post with the hashtag #bekind.
Health Journey and Strictly Return
The dancer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, forcing her to miss that year’s series while undergoing treatment, including a mastectomy and chemotherapy. In February 2024, she shared that medical tests showed no evidence of disease, though she continues to require regular check-ups and injections.
She returned to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom in autumn 2024 paired with JLS singer JB Gill, but was later forced to withdraw from the competition due to a foot injury, with fellow professional Lauren Oakley stepping in to complete the series.
Summary of Recent Strictly Come Dancing Departures
- Week 1: Amy Dowden and Chris Appleton
- Week 2: Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Week 3: Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
Despite the early exit and subsequent commentary, Dowden remains focused on her academy teaching, charity work, and promoting a positive environment within the dance community.
