Oti Mabuse Critiques AJ Pritchards US Move

has claimed people 'may find more palatable in America' and said he 'rubbed people up the wrong way' while on Come Dancing.

The professional dancer, 35, has weighed in on AJ competing on : The Next Pro, in the hopes of winning a place in the line-up on the show.

AJ, 31, who was a professional dancer on Strictly between 2016 and 2019, was branded 'controversial' by Oti, after he said that there should be more British dancers in the professional line-up on the show.

Two-time Strictly champion Oti claimed that not everyone took to AJ when he was on the programme and suggested that his 'personality' was an issue.

When asked if it was 'fair' that AJ was being given a chance on The Next Pro, Oti said: 'I like this one actually cause it's asking about AJ. That guy is so controversial.

'It's so funny, I don't even know how to word this. And he might have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with his personality, right? We can admit that as well,' she said candidly.

'Like, him coming out in public and saying he wants British dancers on a British show because Strictly is Britain…'

Oti was referring to comments made by AJ during an interview with the Sun, where he said: 'I think, upsettingly, I would love to see more British dancers on the show.

'We're in the UK, I'm proud to be British, and there are so many fantastic boys and girls out there who would love the opportunity. So really kind of regionally, it would support the country that we are proud to be. I would love to see that, personally.'

Addressing his remarks directly, she said: 'The most popular pros on Strictly have not been British. I'm talking Aljaz, I'm talking Giovanni, I'm talking Janette. 

'Even now, Vito, Nikita, Alexis, Katya. Even back in the day, we're going Vincent Simone, we're going Ola Jordan, we're going Kristina Rihanoff, we're going Natalie Lowe. Those are the legends. And they're not British.'

'So you can imagine that for a lot of people, that would have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. And also, Strictly is different. Out of all the brands, all the brands. 

'No, we are global. Our professionals are global because that global mixture is what makes us beautiful and is what makes us special.' 

'Not British, and so he's gone off and left the biggest brand, and just been really horrible about it. So that might rub a lot of people the wrong way,' she added about AJ. 

'He left, and he decided, okay, maybe now I've matured, I've grown, and I'd like another opportunity. Do I think he should now try to go for the American one? Yeah, maybe that one might work out better for him. Maybe his personality might be a little bit more palatable there.'

However, Oti insisted she has no issue with him trying out for a place on Dancing With The Stars, adding that people should be encouraged to follow their dreams.

She said: 'I don't think that we should feel a certain way about people trying to reach their dreams. I really don't think we should be offended by people having goals and going for their goals.'

Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas was cast to judge the series, alongside her son Mark, who competes on Dancing With The Stars.

Oti noted that AJ has a connection with Shirley, who has been one of his 'main teachers' in dance since he was a young boy.

She said: ''I've already stated as well in the past that all the contestants feel like they have a certain connection to the panel, especially that panel, where I'm saying Derek, Mark, and Shirley, and in the UK, it is well documented and well known that Shirley has been one of AJ's main teachers since he was a tiny tot, and so that's their connection, and that's probably how he ended up on the show.'

Oti said she was personally so grateful for the platform she was given by Strictly, which has led her to opportunities such as being head judge on the Irish iteration.

She went on to suggest that many dancers consider the US show to be the 'mothership' of all of the versions of the programme across the globe.

Oti said: 'There are over 50 Dancing with the Stars all over the world. It would be crazy to think that some of these kids do not look at America as the mothership, and they see the routines, they see the pros, they see the opportunities the pros have.'

Going back to AJ, Oti told her followers: ‘But yeah, this one, if he wins it, we also don’t know if he will win it. I don’t think we should hold anything against him. The only thing is, will his personality be palatable for an American audience? That’s it, because it’s also you gotta get on with people, right?

‘That’s the only thing is will he get on with his fellow contestants and later on the fellow pros? But other than that, I wish him good luck. I genuinely, genuinely wish him good luck, and I think go on, AJ, smash it.’

It is understood that Oti and AJ didn't exactly see eye to eye while both working on the ballroom show and tension between them was noted by their co-stars.

Oti's recent comments apparently just back up what has been brewing behind the scenes about the state of their relations, but has previously not been public knowledge. 

The Daily Mail has contacted AJ Pritchard for further comment.