In a bold statement, Strictly Come Dancing finalist Amber Davies has addressed the cruel comments and online abuse she's faced ahead of the BBC Strictly final. Davies, a former Love Island winner, stepped in as a replacement for Dani Dyer and has since been the target of persistent criticism due to her West End background.
"I've encountered many people saying, 'I can't warm to her'. But the truth is, they're not trying to connect with me. That's the issue," Davies shared at a press conference. Her powerful message highlights the double standards women face when displaying confidence and ambition.
"It's shocking that in 2025, I still have to clarify this: being ambitious, confident, and having dreams as a woman does not make you stuck-up or arrogant. I want to change that perception," she emphasized.
Davies, a 29-year-old from North Wales, acknowledged the backlash for her strong performances, admitting she recently realized the extent of the negative comments about her abilities. She emphasized her hard work and passion for performing, having come from a small town and worked her way up in the industry.
"I've faced online abuse since Lewis Cope's elimination, and it's intensified in the past few weeks," she revealed. Her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, defended their partnership, calling it a dream to work with someone of Davies's caliber and noting they've attempted innovative dance moves never seen before on the show.
Despite consistently high scores and praise from the judges, Davies is the only finalist to have landed in the dance-off, surviving a close call last weekend against Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon. Reflecting on her journey, Davies became emotional, expressing disbelief at her progress and the sudden end of her Strictly experience.
"It makes me want to cry. I can't believe I'm here, just the way we started. It's been an incredible journey," she said, wiping away tears.
Saturday's final will also mark the last time Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman present the show together, following their announced departure.
And here's where it gets controversial: Davies pointed out that accusations of the competition being 'fixed' due to prior training are not new, citing previous contestants like Layton Williams, Ashley Roberts, and Danny Mac who faced similar scrutiny. She emphasized that musical theatre is vastly different from ballroom and Latin dancing.
"I feel like this is a recurring story. We've seen it every season. So, it didn't come as a surprise," she added.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think the criticism is fair, or is it a case of double standards? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below!
