Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has found himself at the centre of a storm after sharing and then swiftly deleting, a screenshot of an alleged death threat sent to him online.
The Apprentice favourite, who has been winning over viewers with his larger-than-life personality and cheeky charm on the dancefloor, shocked fans when he posted the disturbing message on social media. But instead of an outpouring of sympathy, the move has sparked fierce speculation.
Some Strictly fans were quick to suggest the threat may have been “self-sent,” accusing Skinner of fabricating the message for attention.
Screenshots of the post spread rapidly before it was deleted, fuelling the fire and sending social media into overdrive.
Skinner has flatly denied the accusations, insisting the message was genuine and that he took it down to avoid giving trolls further airtime.
“I would never make something like this up,” he told followers. “It was a horrible thing to receive, and I just wanted to show the kind of abuse that comes with being in the public eye.”
The controversy has left Strictly fans divided, with some standing firmly behind the reality star while others remain sceptical. BBC bosses have yet to comment on the situation, but insiders say producers are monitoring the fallout closely as the hit show battles to maintain its squeaky-clean image.
For now, Skinner is continuing to train with his professional dance partner ahead of the next live performance, but the question remains: will the scandal overshadow his Strictly journey, or will he manage to samba his way past the drama?