The US version of Strictly Come Dancing is facing allegations of behind-the-scenes bullying after a competitor said she was belittled and yelled at in rehearsals.
Lea Thompson, the Back to the Future actress, said that she was driven “crazy” by the behaviour of Artem Chigvintsev, her professional dance partner, when she took part in the 2014 edition of Dancing with the Stars.
Chigvintsev, who was part of the Strictly line-up before joining the US version of the show, was arrested last month over an allegation of domestic violence.
The BBC is preparing to publish a review into claims of bullying on Strictly and has brought in extra duty-of-care measures for contestants on this year’s series, which begins on Saturday.
Speaking on the Sex, Lies and Spray Tans podcast, Thompson said: “He was so intense. It was so much more important than to me, honestly. And so that made me really nervous. It made me crazy after a while.”
She added: “Some of the things he would say to me… I was never allowed to say: ‘Can I try this?’ He would get so mad at me.”
She claimed that Chigvintsev had yelled at her for counting her steps out loud.
Thompson said: “He was so implacable and it was really, really hard. And that was hard because you’re supposed to kind of love them.”
She added: “I remember him telling me that men are much better than women… they’re stronger. That was the one really weird thing… I remember being like: ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re saying that.’”
Thompson said that she had lived in constant fear of being injured because of the gruelling nature of the rehearsals.
She also suggested that the show was particularly hard for female contestants. “You’re trying to be wholesome and sexy and funny and strong and stand up for yourself, but not be too mean. All of that while you’re exhausted.
“You don’t have a day off, and your body hurts. And you’re literally afraid you’re going to kill yourself. All the time, you’re literally afraid.”
Chigvintsev, who is Russian, appeared in Strictly Come Dancing from 2010 to 2013, partnering Kara Tointon, Holly Valance, Fern Britton and Natalie Gumede.
Britton has also made claims about dancing with Chigvintsev, previously saying: “He would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me. He was like: ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you.’ I would say: ‘Oh, please just kill me, it would be easier.’
“We did love each other for a moment or two, but he wasn’t charm personified… I did kind of enjoy it, but it was grim at the same time.”
Chigvintsev responded to her comments at the time, saying: “I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care, and these claims about me are the opposite of everything I believe in and the person I am.”
Chigvintsev’s representatives were contacted for comment.
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