Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin Leaves Amber Davies in Tears with Emotional Tribute — and Stands by Her Through Backlash

As the Strictly Come Dancing semi-finals draw closer, emotions are running high — and nowhere was that more evident than in a deeply touching moment between Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies.

Ahead of the biggest performance week of their journey so far, Nikita surprised Amber with a video she hadn’t seen since the very beginning: their very first dance together.

What followed was an emotional reckoning neither of them expected.

View 4 Images

A Dance Born Out of Chaos and Courage

Amber had been thrown into Strictly with just hours to prepare, stepping in at the last minute after Dani Dyer was forced to withdraw from the competition. With barely any rehearsal time and no chance to truly get to know her partner, Amber walked onto the dancefloor under extraordinary pressure.

In the Instagram video shared by Nikita, Amber is seen breaking down in tears as she watches their debut Waltz.

“I can’t even talk,” she tells him through tears. “We barely knew each other.”

Nikita gently recalls the chaos behind the scenes:
“We just scraped for everything. Last-minute dress, last-minute everything.”

Amber then opens up about the fear she felt that night:
“I was shaking from head to toe. I remember thinking, ‘Just look into his eyes.’ You made your eyes a comfort place for me.”

What began as a simple routine quickly became something far deeper — a moment of trust, survival, and quiet bravery.

From Strangers to Soulmates on the Dancefloor

Laughing through the emotion, the pair joke about how “simple” that first dance now looks compared to everything they’ve tackled since.

“Now you’re my best friend in the world,” Amber tells Nikita.

And for Nikita, the moment holds equal weight.

“Out of my whole experience on this show,” he says, “I have two special first dance moments. My very first ever dance on Strictly… and this one. Because this was just crazy.”

Their bond, forged under pressure, has become one of the most talked-about partnerships of the series.

Nikita Kuzmin Stands by Amber Amid Harsh Criticism

But Amber’s Strictly journey hasn’t been easy — not off the dancefloor.

After surviving the dance-off and advancing to the semi-finals, Amber found herself at the centre of online backlash, with some viewers accusing her of “taking someone else’s place” because she joined the show as a late replacement.

The criticism hit hard.

Behind the scenes, Nikita has been a constant source of strength, reassuring Amber when the noise became overwhelming.

Those close to the pair say Nikita repeatedly reminded her that she didn’t ask for the situation, didn’t steal an opportunity — and that she had earned every step forward through hard work, resilience, and growth.

“He kept telling me I belonged here,” Amber has said previously. “When I doubted myself, he didn’t.”

Nikita is understood to have encouraged Amber to block out the negativity, focus on the joy of dancing, and remember why she said yes in the first place — to challenge herself and take a leap of faith.

Semi-Final Stakes Rise

This weekend, the pressure intensifies as all remaining couples perform two routines in a bid to reach the final.

Amber and Nikita will dance:

A Couple’s Choice to Fly Me to the Moon by RAYE

A Tango to Higher by Michael Bublé

Elsewhere:

Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon will perform a Waltz and a Salsa

George Clarke and Alexis Warr will take on a Charleston and a Samba

Karen Carney and Carlos Gu will dance a Salsa and a Waltz

More Than a Competition

For Amber, reaching this stage already feels like a victory.

What began as a last-minute decision has become a life-changing experience — one marked by vulnerability, criticism, and extraordinary support.

And at the heart of it all stands Nikita Kuzmin — not just as a professional partner, but as the person who helped her believe she deserved to stay.

As the semi-finals loom, one thing is clear:
Whatever happens next, Amber and Nikita’s journey has already left its mark — not just on the dancefloor, but in the hearts of viewers watching at home.