Aimee Walker
Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse has defended her former dance partner Bill Bailey after he received a backlash for making a ‘controversial’ comment about the Covid vaccine.
It all started when Bailey, 56, was asked by The Times whether or not he would agree to partner up with a professional dancer who had refused the jab.
He replied: “I wouldn’t. I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. We’re still not out of this by any means.”
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After hearing his response, many people took to Twitter and blasted the actor for his ‘disappointing’ admission.
One person tweeted: “How can someone as clever as this guy be so ignorant (scientifically) and bigoted when it comes to vaccines?”
Another added: “Very disappointing from Bill Bailey.”
In agreement, a third harshly commented: “Lucky Bill won’t have that problem. Who’s gonna dance with him? State of him.”
At this point, Mabuse stepped and responded: “I would. Over and over and over again.”
Several then praised the professional dancer for stepping up and defending her friend.
One fan said: “I feel so sorry for the people on the original thread who clearly never experienced the utter joy of watching you and Bill last year! You both saved 2020 for me!”
Pitching in, another added: “What is it with people going off at Bill? He is wonderful! Loved you on Strictly last year.”
“The two of you were brilliant,” a third gushed.
Currently, BBC bosses are not enforcing Strictly’s professional dancers to be vaccinated to take part in the show.
It’s believed that a few of the pros have opted out of the jab, for both medical and personal reasons.
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