Brendan Cole has hit back at his critics after he was accused of being 'selfish' for ranting about lockdown and the Covid vaccine from a bar in Mallorca.
The row kicked off after the former Strictly Come Dancing star, 44, posed for a photo on the sunny Balearic island - where he has a holiday home - alongside a rant about the 'unfair' closure of a number of venues.
While the UK remains in lockdown, bars and restaurants in Mallorca have been serving customers outside since March 15.
Sharing a selfie of him enjoying the lifted restrictions as he supped a pint at a street side bar, Brendan told his followers: "Beautiful day in #Mallorca. Lovely to finally be able to support bars and restaurants devastated by ridiculous and unfair closures."
He added the following hashtags: '#sosturismo #sosrestaurante #travel #notovaccinepassport #nuremburgcode #noinforcedvaccine #yourbodyyourchoice."
His choice of caption and hashtags soon riled fans with many accusing him of being 'selfish' for 'bragging' about enjoying his time abroad while many were still enduring touch lockdown restrictions back home.
Brendan, wife Zoe and their two children, have a property in Buckinghamshire but have spending time at their holiday home in Mallorca this lockdown.
One follower told the dancer: "This post is someone insensitive. What's not fair and ridiculous is the suffering due to covid for the families who have lost loved ones, the hospital staff and the sacrifices they have made.
"Only for people to ignore the warnings and then expect them to fix everything. Please be careful with your choice of words . You can see by the comments , it has not gone down well. Loss of respect from many.
"As someone the public know and many adore , please stop and think before you brush off a serious pandemic in this way . I wish you and your family well.
"Not everyone is as fortunate to be doing what you are and the cuts deep through these toughest of times."
Spotting the comment, a furious Brendan fired back by saying he failed to see how he was being insensitive with his comments as he doubled down on his call for people to be let out of lockdown.
"'I'm sorry that you are now a disappointed fan. I fail to see how I have been insensitive or used the wrong choice of words.
"Perhaps I should have said as a caveat that it is heartbreaking all of the loss because of this and that I thank all of the NHS and people working hard under extreme conditions etc but my message was about saving industry and people's livelihoods.
"People have lost and are losing everything and I don't see it as insensitive to support them. I'm sorry but I don't think it's right to make people have the vaccine if they don't want to or can't.
"I don't think it's right to lock people down for this long as they have and I don't think it's right to have hundreds of thousands of people thrown into poverty. There is a bigger picture here in my opinion and I'm not sure you should be disappointed.
"Perhaps we can have a conversation about it and try to enlighten each other or understand where the other is coming from. With regard to your second message.
"Just so you know, I have worked extremely hard for my entire life to get where I am today. I have sacrificed a lot and risked more than you could know," he explained.
Brendan finished his lengthy response: "'I am and will be forever grateful for the fans that have as you put 'lined my pockets' but I don't think it's necessary to make comments like this. It's simply not very nice and belittles the career I've spent a lifetime building. Best wishes to you."
The angry comments did not stop there with another follower asking Brendan "Why do we want to see you gloating with a beer in your hand. We are playing by the rules, you however are a selfish t*t."
To which Brendan responded: "A selfish t*t for wanting people's business' back up and running and for freedom of choice? For the record I have played by the rules even though I did not necessarily agree with them!
"'I live on an island with very little COVID which has been under severe lockdowns where my children couldn't even leave the house for several months. We're made to wear masks everywhere. My daughter who is 8 has to wear one all day at school.
"If you want to call me names... do it from an educated position and not hiding behind your phone. I wish you happiness and good mental and physical health. 'Cheers'."
Another told Brendan that bars and restaurants were closed for a reason.
To which the former Strictly champ hit back: "You'll have to tell that to the millions of people who have lost their businesses, gone bankrupt, or can't feed their children because of the measures put in place."
His latest Instagram spat is not the first time Brendan has provoked criticism for his opinions on the pandemic.
In December he suggested that wearing a face mask did little to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
