Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has slammed people who complained after watching the opening group dance during Saturday’s show.
As the show kicked off, male dancers Gorka Marquez, Giovanni Pernice and Johannes Radebe ensured that Musicals Week launched with a bang as they slipped into their best drag.
The dancers performed a medley of songs from the musical Priscilla Queen Of The Desert.
During the performance, the trio brandished rainbow flags most commonly associated with the LGBTQ+ community, which was met with praise but also a negative response.
Speaking out after 100 people complained, Craig said that drag was “part of real-life”.
Craig has slammed those that complained about the drag performance (Image: PA)
Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: “I think they are ridiculous. If you can’t grow with society then turn it off, it’s crazy.
“You are always going to come into problems with someone complaining about something. But there was nothing.
“If people knew what Priscilla Queen Of The Desert actually was, like the musical and they saw that, then they would know that the boys were acting as these characters in the play.”
100 people complained after watching male dancers Giovanni, Gorka and Johannes perform in drag (Image: BBC)
The 55-year-old added: “‘I’m sorry but this is a part of real-life and if you are not going to open your eyes up to it then turn the TV off.”
Professional dancer Johannes, who led the routine said that it was planned to cheer the nation up after suffering a tumultuous year.
“Just what we all need. This was done with you all in mind,” he exclaimed.
Johannes claimed that the public “needed” the performance (Image: BBC)
Earlier this year, Strictly faced complaints when it was announced they would feature the first same-sex pairing on the dancing competition.
Olympic boxer Nicola Adams was partnered with dancer Katya Jones – addressing the complaints, Craig added: “People need to open their eyes and accept that this is all-inclusive society and that is what we should be working towards.”
During last year’s season of Strictly, the show was hit with 300 complaints after Johannes and Graziano Di Prima took part in the first same-sex dance routine.
The corporation decided to uphold the complaints.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday night.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
