Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin halts live show to condemn ‘hate’ against Amber Davies

Strictly Come Dancing pro Nikita Kuzmin delivered a passionate speech in support of celebrity partner Amber Davies

Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies

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Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies(Image: BBC)

Nikita Kuzmin ‘halted’ Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing live show to condemn critics for their barrage of ‘hate’ directed at his celebrity partner Amber Davies. And her ended his passionate speech by urging everyone to ‘be kind,’ as the couple got another perfect score from the judges.

Former Love Island winner Amber, who has gone onto star in hit musicals like Pretty Woman, 9 to 5 and The Great Gatsby since winning the ITV show in 2017, wasn’t even meant to be a contestant in the new series of Strictly, but was called in at the last minute, after another ex Love Island champion, Dani Dyer, had to withdraw due to picking up a nasty injury in rehearsals.

Given her dance and performing experience, a few eyes brows were immediately raised about Amber doing Strictly, weeks after another stand-in contestant, Lewis Cope, had also faced some backlash, due to his own West End past. Both Amber, who will play the lead in Legally Blonde next year, and Lewis received 40s from the judges at various points during the competition, so it came as a shock when both landed in the bottom two last week, with Amber then staying in a unanimous decision, having scored 40/40 for her Charleston last Saturday.

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Amber and Nikita are hoping to bounce back from their dance-off disappointment by making the Strictly final and, after their second of two dances this weekend, a Couple’s Choice to Fly Me to The Moon, Nikita, who has previously been in the final with Layton Williams, spoke out in Amber’s defence, taking camera time to support his partner, moments after they got another perfect score.

Turning to face her, Nikita began: “You’ve had so much hate every single day from the moment you joined…you’ve had so much hate this week and you came into the training room every single day with a big smile and just ignoring everybody.”

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Nikita went on to say that Amber cared ‘more about him’ than herself, as he then ended: “I think sometimes and I speak to the audience at home, just guys, please, please be kind, because you (Amber) don’t deserve any of that.”