Thomas Skinner ‘walks out’ of Strictly press event amid controversy

• Thomas Skinner, a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, unexpectedly left the show's first press event at Elstree Studios.
• Skinner, a social media personality, has recently faced criticism for controversial posts on Twitter/X and for being pictured wearing a Make America Great Again cap with US Vice President JD Vance.
• The BBC director-general, Tim Davie, defended the decision to cast Skinner, stating that the production team makes casting choices and would not accept individuals with "unacceptable" or "racist views."
• Skinner, 34, is a former Apprentice star who runs several businesses and has a prominent social media following.
• Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to BBC One on Saturday, 20 September, with this controversy preceding its launch.

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Thomas Skinner walks out of show press event