Strictly star Nicola Adams says anyone who has a problem with her dancing with a woman on the BBC1 show can switch to another channel.
Nicola, 37, will become the first celebrity contestant in a same-sex pairing as she is partnered with Katya Jones in the new series, which kicks off with the launch show this Saturday.
When male professionals Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima performed together on the show last year the Beeb got nearly 200 complaints.
But Nicola said: “This is 2020. We have to move with the times.
“I’ve been through my mum and dad separating, domestic violence, back injuries, having to look after my brother when I was 13 when my mum had meningitis.
"So someone’s going to comment on Twitter? It’s nothing, it won’t faze me at all.
“If they don’t like it, they’re going to have to deal with it or switch to another channel.”
She said she requested to be paired with a woman because it “felt more comfortable”.
She told Radio Times: “I’ve already got girls saying they’re so happy I’m doing Strictly. Being a role model isn’t something I planned, but I take it in my stride.
"I guess I just roll with the punches – excuse the pun."
*Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC1 with the launch show on Saturday at 7.50pm.
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