Former Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff says Robin Windsor was “destroyed” after being dropped from the BBC show.
On Tuesday (February 20) fans were left heartbroken over news Strictly pro Robin had died at the age of 44. Robin appeared on Strictly between 2010 and 2014 and danced with celebs like Patsy Kensit and Lisa Riley.
Kristina took to Instagram to share a long and emotional tribute to her friend. In her post, Kristina, 46, spoke of how devastated she felt about Robin’s death and claimed that he had been “struggling more and more” before his passing.
READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing’s Robin Windsor dies aged 44 as tributes pour in for ‘beautiful person’
READ MORE: Click for more brilliant Daily Star TV stories
Sharing two pictures of herself alongside Robin, the mother of one wrote: “There is no words to express the pain and devastation. Robin wasn’t just my dance partner, he was a friend and together we shared endless experiences from our careers highlights to hitting rock bottom of rejection.
(Image: Getty Images)
“When I got partnered with him on Strictly I was blown away by his kindness, lighthearted personality and amazing loyalty. He had stood by me through many rough times during Strictly for which I am deeply grateful for as there was no one else to lean on.
“He always found the way to bring my spirit up. However his own spirit was absolutely destroyed when he was dropped from Strictly and that’s where I started to see changes in his personality, depression and broken self-worth.
(Image: instagram/@krihanoff)
“While we went on to do many shows tours gigs & appearances together he was struggling more and more with instability of work and excruciating back pain because of the injury he had suffered during Strictly.”
Kristina went on to speak on the harsh reality of being a professional dancer. She continued: “Sadly, us dancers, always neglect our health because we always after the next gig, the next job and he just couldn’t look after his injury properly until there was nothing left to do but have an operation which also put him out of work for quite some time.
“Unfortunately ‘stage life’ of a dancer is short and nobody really cares because there is always the next person who can take your place and that’s the ugly truth. He often would say that he doesn’t know where he’s going and what will be next.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
“Many of you, who went to see his farewell tour, know perfectly well that he spoke very openly about his mental health struggles and thoughts of suicide. I’m sure it was devastating for anyone who loves Robin to hear something like that, but those thoughts were in his head for quite many years and it’s so deeply sad that he felt that he is better to another place rather than stay here.
“Too much pain too much disappointment, too much Neglect. I was asked today to appear on every news outlet, every TV show to pay tribute him to which I said no. Not today, not over zoom saying a couple of words what a great guy he was – the truth is he was an incredible person and it’s absolute tragedy that he felt there was no way out.”
The TV icon on finished her message by thanking her friend Robin. She wrote: “Thank you for everything Robin, rest in peace.”
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
