’Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant Anastacia has spoken out about the fallout from her injury that saw last week’s dance off cancelled.
The US singer has admitted she thinks Melvin Odoom should have stayed in the competition over her and partner Brendan Cole, after she was unable to compete in the elimination decider last Sunday (2 October), due to a painful injury to her mastectomy scars.
As a result, producers reverted to the public vote to determine who was sent home, with Melvin and his partner Janette Manrara eliminated.
Appearing on ‘Strictly’ spin off show ‘It Takes Two’ on Wednesday, Anastacia addressed the controversy publicly for the first time, and also gave an update on her health.
“I’m feeling great. It feels like it’s been two weeks since Saturday,” she told host Zoë Ball. “I’m really feeling good!”
She continued: “I didn’t want to have to injure myself but with a Dance Off, you just don’t know what to do. It’s all a bit confusing. I totally thought I was going to go. I mean, [Melvin] lives here, I’m an American. Who knows her? So when they called my name, it just was the worst. I wanted him to go through because I couldn’t dance. But I’m here!”
The ‘I’m Outta Love’ singer also confirmed she will be competing on Saturday, with her and Brendan dancing the Viennese Waltz to ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri from ‘The Twilight Saga’.
“This dance was made for my injury,” she explained.
Brendan added: “Should we go forward, there will be dances that we’ll have to adapt, but this is not one of them. It’s soft and delicate.
“We don’t have to do anything in any number that we don’t want to do. It’s just about being aware of what we’ve got to do and delivering a performance that suits.”
The BBC has stood by Anastacia in the wake of the backlash, responding to viewer complaints about the decision to cancel the dance off.
However, it has been claimed judge Bruno Tonioli was less than happy about the decision, with reports he threatened to walk out of last week’s results show.
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ continues on Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One.
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