AMBER Davies has addressed the backlash she received after signing up for Strictly despite her West End experience.

The former Love Island star is also known for starring in various musicals such as 9 to 5, Back to the Future, The Great Gatsby and Pretty Woman.

The controversy erupted when fans discovered that Davies, who has starred in major musical productions like 9 to 5 and Back to the Future: The Musical, had years of stage and dance training before joining Strictly. Many accused her of having an “unfair advantage,” with social media buzzing that the competition was “rigged” in her favor. But in an emotional sit-down interview, Amber revealed the truth behind the headlines — and the toll it’s taken on her mental health.

It was only the support of her Strictly family that kept her from leaving. “My partner came in and just hugged me,” she said, visibly emotional. “He told me to remember why I started — that little girl who dreamed of performing. He said, ‘Don’t let other people take that away from you.’ That hit me hard. I realized I wasn’t just dancing for myself — I was dancing for every young person who’s ever been told they don’t belong.”

Amber also addressed the criticism head-on, saying she understands why people might feel frustrated, but she hopes viewers can see beyond the labels. “Yes, I’ve had dance training — I’ve never hidden that,” she said firmly. “But I didn’t waltz my way onto this show with ease. I’ve been learning from scratch. It’s like saying a singer can’t learn a new genre because they’ve sung before — it doesn’t work like that. I respect this competition too much to pretend it’s easy. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Amber Davies has spoken out about the backlash she has gotten since joining Strictly

Credit: ITV

“I’ve honestly never felt so exposed,” she confessed through tears. “People think because I’ve danced before, I should be perfect — but this is completely different. Ballroom and Latin are nothing like musical theatre. I’ve had to unlearn so much, and every time I step onto that floor, I feel like the pressure doubles. It’s been really hard to read some of the comments.”

Davies explained that the storm intensified after her standout performance on the show’s Movie Week, when she and her professional partner received glowing praise from the judges. “That’s when everything exploded online,” she said. “I was so proud of that dance, but then I went on social media and saw people tearing me apart, saying it wasn’t fair, that I shouldn’t even be here. It broke me. I cried for hours.”

She then dropped a bombshell that shocked fans — admitting that after a particularly rough night following Nina Gold Trophy (NGT) rehearsals, she came this close to quitting the competition altogether. “I had just come off one of the hardest rehearsals of my life,” she revealed. “I was exhausted, I was bruised, and I was reading all these comments about how I didn’t deserve my place. I remember sitting in my dressing room, in full costume, shaking. I texted my mum and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I’m done.’ I was minutes away from walking out.”

She even recalled a moment this week when she broke down in tears over a hard dance move
Credit: ITV
She recently replaced Dani Dyer, who quit after the first episode of the series due to an injury.

Amber, 28, instantly became the joint female favourite, alongside Vicky Pattison, who are both 5/1 with Ladbrokes.

Chatter on social media soon turned to how she is so experienced, following her signing, with fans slamming Strictly and plunging it into another fix row.

Speaking on This Morning today about her prior experience and the backlash she received, Amber has set the record street.

Host of the show Ben said to Amber: “You’re a professional performer.”

Cat later added: “You have experience of dancing,” to which Amber replied, “Yes.”

“But you’re not a ballroom dancer, you’ve never done the samba before,” Cat added.

Amber quickly affirmed: “No, no, no.”

She then added: “Also, I wanna say, I think the ballroom and Latin community know that musical theatre is world’s apart [from ballroom dancing].”

Ben then asked her how she feels when people say she’s a professional dancer and shouldn’t be on the show.

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“I do understand where they come from, because I can perform.

“But, there’s a great example. Yesterday we were doing our American Smooth, and even just walking left right, left right, brought me to tears.

“It’s so much more complicated than you can imagine.”

Amber Davies has broken her silence in a raw and emotional confession that’s left fans stunned — revealing she was “minutes away from quitting” after facing a wave of backlash over her professional dance background on Strictly Come Dancing. The former Love Island winner and West End star, known for her dazzling performances and big personality, broke down in tears as she admitted the fierce criticism almost made her walk away from the show entirely.

Her heartfelt honesty has struck a chord with fans and fellow contestants alike, many of whom have spoken out in her defense. Several Strictly alumni have shared messages of support, pointing out that the show has always featured celebrities with varying degrees of dance experience — from pop stars to stage actors to athletes. One former finalist wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Amber’s incredible, but people forget the emotional toll this show takes. You can have technique — but if your confidence is shattered, that’s what shows on the dance floor.”

As the Strictly season intensifies, Amber admits she’s still battling nerves, but now with a renewed sense of purpose. “I’ve stopped reading the comments,” she said. “I’m focusing on the joy of dancing again. I want people to see the real me — not the version twisted by the internet. I’m far from perfect, but I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”

Her candid interview has transformed what was once a firestorm into a story of strength and authenticity. In a world quick to judge, Amber Davies has reminded fans that even under the bright lights of Strictly Come Dancing, vulnerability is what truly makes someone shine. “Maybe,” she said softly, “this was all meant to happen — so I could learn to stand tall, even when the music stops.”

Amber then explained how it “exhausts every muscle in your body”.

This comes after we revealed that when Amber joined the show, her co-stars were not impressed.

A TV insider said at the time: “The celebs are trying to be good sports about everything and don’t want to let on to show bosses they’re unhappy.

“But behind the scenes, all the chatter is they think it’s unfair that the line-up now includes two sensational dancers who have substantial experience on stage.

“Having one celeb with that kind of background is one thing but having two is seen as unfair, particularly if they both ended up in the final.”

Dani, 29, had to drop out after revealing she had fractured her foot in rehearsals with pro partner Nikita ­Kuzmin and would not be able to perform in tonight’s first live show of the 2025 series.

North Wales-born Amber, who at 16 gained a ­scholarship to train in musical theatre at London’s Urdang performing arts academy, will partner Ukrainian Nikita, 27, and they will perform a waltz.

She said after the announcement: “I’ve watched Strictly with my family since I was younger and to now be part of the show is a dream come true.”

Nikita was originally paired up with Dani Dyer, but when she was forced to pull out, he was paired with Amber at the last minute

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Behind the glitter and sequins, Amber says, the experience has forced her to confront insecurities she never knew she had. “When you’re performing live in front of millions, there’s nowhere to hide,” she said. “Every mistake feels amplified. And when people start questioning whether you deserve to be there — it makes you question it too. That’s the scariest part. I started doubting myself, even when I knew I’d worked so hard.”

Still, the 27-year-old is determined to keep going, vowing to channel the negativity into motivation. “I’m not going to let online hate dictate my journey,” she said. “If anything, it’s made me stronger. I want to prove that resilience matters more than perfection. Every step I take now, I’m doing it with gratitude and grit.”

Amber also revealed how much her family has helped her stay grounded through the chaos. “My mum sends me messages before every live show saying, ‘You’ve got this, my little firecracker,’” she smiled. “When the noise gets too loud, I read that and remember who I am. I’m not a headline, I’m not a controversy — I’m just a girl who loves to dance.”

Despite the criticism, Amber’s performances have continued to win over viewers and judges alike. Her emotional storytelling, sharp technique, and undeniable charisma have cemented her as one of the frontrunners in the competition. Insiders say producers have been impressed by her professionalism and grace under pressure — qualities that have earned her respect behind the scenes.

STACEY Solomon has found herself targeted by mum-shamers after admitting her kids have to have “soggy” packed lunches by the end of the week.

The mum-of-five opened up about her time-saving hack in an episode of her BBC reality show Stacey & Joe, as she revealed she preps all her kids’ lunches for the whole week on a Sunday.