Former Strictly Come Dancing professional AJ Pritchard has admitted to ‘accidentally’ slapping Saffron Barker around the face in a resurfaced video.
YouTuber Saffron, 23 and AJ were paired up together during their time on the show, but an old video began to do the rounds again, following the recent Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima scandals.
The playful clip, which was filmed during the nineteenth series in 2019, shows the pair stood next to each other along with a poll that reads: ‘Did Saffron Barker get whacked around the face? True or false’.
Speaking to the camera, AJ asks if the accusation is true or not, before Saffron answers.
She said: ‘Unfortunately it was true. AJ was trying to get the angrier side of me to come out, so he demonstrates, but actually whacks me round the face. I mean, both hands, slap. Like, it hurt.’
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional AJ Pritchard has admitted to ‘accidentally’ slapping Saffron Barker around the face
YouTuber Saffron, 23, and AJ were paired up together during their time on the show, but an old video began to do the rounds again, following the recent Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima scandals
A year earlier, AJ, 29, accused partner Lauren Steadman, 31, of deliberately fluffing up her steps.
In a clip on his YouTube channel, when Paralympian Lauren said he ‘needs anger management’, he replied: ‘No, it’s passion management.’
Earlier this week, another former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan furiously hit back after unearthed footage emerged of him telling his partner Georgina Bouzova he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves.
The ballroom dancer and choreographer, 46, slammed the BBC saying most of the footage ‘was not related to Georgina at all’.
The clip, which was filmed during the fourth series back in 2006, shows him rehearsing with actress Georgina.
He also says to her ‘kill you’ as he demands she stands on one leg and insists that unless she has physically broken a rib he doesn’t care what pain she is in. He is also seen throwing a chair across the training studio.
But he has now responded to the clip on his Instagram as he shared a raging statement saying that the footage was ‘edited for entertainment’ and was ‘highly produced and exaggerated’.
The old videos come after a female Strictly dancer could be next to face allegations of abuse, following last week’s revelation that Graziano Di Prima was dismissed over a video showing him kicking his partner Zara McDermott.
The playful clip, shows the pair in 2019 stood next to each other along with a poll that reads: ‘Did Saffron Barker get whacked around the face? True or false’
. Speaking to the camera, AJ asks if the accusation is true or not, before Saffron answers
She says: ‘Unfortunately it was true. AJ was trying to get the angrier side of me to come out, so he demonstrates, but actually whacks me round the face. I mean, both hands, slap. Like, it hurt’
According to The Mirror, the household name would ‘scream in rage’ at the male celebrity if he got the steps wrong.
However, it is thought the partnership wasn’t entirely negative and the pair did ‘get along at times’ des
pite there being ‘challenging moments’.
MailOnline has contacted a Strictly representative for comment.
The revelations come after Giovanni Pernice, 33, was the first professional to be suspended by the BBC.
A probe is underway over ‘bullying’ allegations from at least three former contestants, including Amanda Abbington, 50, who claimed she suffered PTSD after training with the pro last year.
Sources previously claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore had an ’emotional summit’ where they ‘compared notes’ about their time working with Giovanni on the show – accusations he denies.
Amanda quit the show due to ‘personal reasons’ before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after being ‘bruised’ when ‘Giovanni stepped on her foot during practice’.
Amanda Abbington, 50, claimed she suffered PTSD after training with pro dancer Giovanni Pernice last year (pictured in October)
Amanda abruptly left the BBC show citing ‘personal issues’ and hasn’t been seen on screen since, even quitting social media last month in the wake of her former dance partner’s sacking
Fellow Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the programme last week after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara McDermott
Zara wrote that while much of her time on Strictly ‘was everything I could have dreamt of’ inside the training room there were ‘particular incidents which are incredibly distressing’
Meanwhile Ranvir complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show, while Laura said she ‘cried every day’ and felt ‘uncomfortable’ while dancing with him in 2016. Giovanni denies all the claims against him.
The BBC are currently believed to be scouring through nine years of Strictly footage to confirm or deny claims from the three celebrities.
Last week, another professional dancer Graziano Di Prima was sacked over a video in which he was seen kicking partner Zara McDermott. He apologised to Zara at the time, and admitted he ‘crossed the line’.
Admitting that while he ‘remembers pushing [Zara] quite hard’ during training, Graziano’s spokesman claimed the descriptions reported ‘do not align’ with Graziano’s own memory.
Going on to claim that the Italian star – who has since moved back to his native Sicily – has been left in a ‘very vulnerable state’ in the fallout from the scandal.
His representative, Mark Borkowski, said: ‘This week the news agenda has focused on an isolated incident that Mr Di Prima deeply regrets and apologised for at the time.
‘The deluge of commentary, too often without context or nuance, has provoked a pile-on that has left a young man in a very vulnerable state’.
According to show insiders, video footage of Graziano mistreating Zara gave bosses no choice but to cancel his contract.
Addressing his departure on Instagram, Graziano wrote: ‘I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.
The professional dancer, 30, has since apologised for his behaviour in a statement, admitting to having kicked her (pictured on show)
Comments about Graziano’s tough rules have resurfaced, with Zara previously revealing he only allowed her to wear men’s dance shoes, leaving her with ‘open wounds’ on her feet
Graziano’s spokesman said he apologised to Zara for kicking her at the time , but denied claims he ever spat at her
Additionally, it was uncovered that dancer-turned-judge Anton DuBeke had been drawn into the controversy after ex-partner Laila Rouass complained about his language used in 2009, for which he later apologised
‘Respecting the BBC HR process, I understand it’s best for the show that I step away.’
He continued: ‘While there are aspects of this story involving external influences that I can’t discuss at this time, I remain committed to being strong for my family and friends.
‘I wish the Strictly family and the BBC nothing but success in the future.’
He concluded the post: ‘I also want to thank everyone who has supported my career, both professionally and personally. When the time is right, I will share my story.’
Additionally, it was uncovered that dancer-turned-judge Anton DuBeke had been drawn into the controversy after ex-partner Laila Rouass complained about his language used in 2009, for which he later apologised.
