Strictly’s Wynne Evans ‘heartbroken’ over ‘wandering hands’ drama with Katya Jones --[Reported by Umva mag]

Wynne Evans feels ‘heartbroken’ after the backlash over his apparent ‘wandering hands’ incident with Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones.

The Russian professional, 35, went viral this weekend after the Go Compare opera singer, 52, was seen standing behind her among the rest of the cast, an arm around her waist, which Katya subtly moved back when his hand crept towards her front.

It didn’t take long for the clip to garner millions of views, with fans begging the BBC to step in over fears for her wellbeing.

Katya has defended has celebrity partner amid the furore, and on BBC Radio Wales, Wynne admitted: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.

‘It’s not nice to live in that time, but basically Katya and I are really, really close and we’re really good friends, and on Saturday night we made a stupid joke. It was a stupid joke that went wrong, okay, we thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny. It has been totally misinterpreted.’

He urged people to look at Katya’s own response on her social media, noting ‘she wasn’t offended in the least’ and ‘doesn’t feel uncomfortable’.

‘We’ve got a brilliant friendship, an absolutely tight friendship, and I’m sorry if anybody was offended by it, but it was a joke and yeah, that’s all there is, there is no real story, really,’ he added.

‘And I feel weird apologising because I feel like I’ve not really done anything.’

He agreed he had ‘misjudged it’, when interviewed on Radio Wales Breakfast before starting his own show on the station, and confirmed he was ‘absolutely still up for’ Strictly.

After the show, the pair issued a joint apology, with audiences also having spotted an awkward background moment when Katya snubbed a high-five from Wynne with a stern expression before seemingly faking a smile again for the cameras.

However, not everyone was convinced, believing Katya was ‘forced’ to apologise and brush off the incident as ‘messing around,’ claiming she felt uncomfortable around her partner.

Ahead of Sunday’s results show, the choreographer, who joined Strictly in 2016, took to Instagram with a video setting the record straight.

‘Happy Sunday, everyone. Now, I need to make something crystal clear,’ she began.

‘The hand incident that happened on Saturday night was an inside, very silly joke between Wynne and I.

‘So, even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in any way is complete nonsense.

‘It’s quite absurd, actually.’

Katya went on to say: ‘Now, can we just focus on how brilliantly he’s doing and what an amazing dancer he’s becoming?’

Her video then ended abruptly as her doorbell buzzed and she had a delivery to receive.

‘Gotta run! Lots of love, bye!’, she said, blowing a kiss.

Despite Katya’s plea for people to stop speculating, though, not everyone bought what she was saying.

‘You’re not explaining how it was a joke? I think it’s exactly how it come across on camera. You didn’t want his hand there, so moved it? Not a big deal,’ wrote Instagram user shannonsmithxxx.

‘The explanation videos only make the situation stranger. How is inappropriately touching someone an inside joke?’, asked amyleekav.

Others asked Katya if she was ‘ok’ and noted how she ‘had’ to say something because her ‘job is on the line’.

However, there was also an outpouring of support for both Katya and Wynne.

Fellow Strictly pro Kai Widdrington commented: ‘Had the whole nation hook line and sinker ???????????? @wynneevans’.

‘You two are doing great together – ignore all the comments ????’, wrote danskdotti.

A Strictly source also told the PA News agency: ‘Wynne and Katya have confirmed that their interactions in the Clauditorium were silly jokes they had planned together and have apologised to anyone who may have misinterpreted them.

‘They addressed them on Wynne’s Instagram, where their apology can be found. Katya would like to clarify further that she was not offended by Wynne and was not made to feel uncomfortable in the least.

‘The welfare team have checked in on the pair and there are no further actions planned.’

Katya and Wynne have warmed people’s hearts with their partnership for the past four weeks and have continued climbing the leaderboard, scoring a mega total of 34 for their tango.

Speaking previously about their relationship, Wynne had nothing but compliments for Katya, saying she has helped him feel more ‘comfortable’ with his body.

Wynne has lost seven stone in the past year, and the pounds have continued to drop since he started training for Strictly, for which he’s also credited his calorie-controlled diet and the support of his girlfriend, Liz Brooks, 50.

He told The Daily Mail that his rehearsals with Katya are ‘50% dancing and both 50% counselling’.

‘I’ve always had a bit of rhythm, but I’m not very light on my feet, but I’m really enjoying this. I’m finding it a brilliant experience. I’m more body confident.

‘Looking in the mirror all day is a bit odd for me because the mirror is something I always try to avoid, but I’m really enjoying it actually, and being aware of my neck and my shoulders and all of that.’

This weekend, Wynne placed second on the judges’ scoreboard, just behind Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec.

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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