Wynne Evans of Strictly Come Dancing refutes claims that he sex-laughed his co-star Janette Manrara during a performance in Birmingham where the entire cast was assembled.
Wynne Evans has opened up about ‘what he really said’ to Strictly Come Dancing’s Janette Manrara after he was ‘forced’ to apoplgise for the sexual slur – which he now claims was the farthest thing from what he actually meant it to be. The opera singer, 53, best known for his Go Compare adverts, was caught on camera in January making a vile “spit roast” remark towards a co-star.
The footage, which was made public in January, shows Wynne standing in the middle of the cast as Janette, who hosts the BBC spin-off show It Takes Two, is asked to join them.
When Wynne approached the group, she was caught making an inappropriate sexual remark to Janette Manrara, the tour’s host. Before adding, “Not too close to Jamie [Borthwick],” he sang the song “Go Compare.” Then, in reference to a lewd sexual act, he made the incredibly offensive term “spit roast.”
At the time, Evans said in a statement to the Mirror: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.” He was seen with the tour cast as they turned up to Liverpool after having to pull out of the Glasgow shows due to an injury. However, he later pulled from the tour entirely.
However, Wynne has denied making the comments caught on camera. After issuing an apology at the time, the opera singer has now revealed what he actually meant by saying the words ‘spit-roast’, claiming it was a nickname for his fellow Strictly star and EastEnders actor, Jamie. Wynne told The Sun in a new interview: “I didn’t see the statement. Old Spit-roast Boy was a nickname for Jamie Borthwick. I’m not a bad guy, I’m not a misogynist, I’m not any of these things.”
Wynne now insists his mistakes on the show were simply light-hearted pranks which completely backfired on him, leading to his career taking a massive plunge. The Strictly star has also revealed that he suffered a dreadful mental health collapse after his axe from the show, admitting that he was on even 24/7 suicide watch by an NHS crisis team.
If I had used it in the double meaning of the word, “I would be the first to apologize,” Wynne told the publication. However, it was not intended to be sexual, and the use of the word “boy” is nuanced, but it clearly indicates that I was speaking to Jamie, not Janette.
Two weeks after that photocall, I was sat in this hotel room and started receiving calls saying, “You have used a term that is really offensive.” Then I have my team ringing me, the Strictly team ringing me, and the tour team ringing me again.
Wynne continued to claim that the press release released on his behalf had left him speechless. Your natural reaction is, “God, I’m so sorry,” you say, “Of course, you’ve offended someone. I then proceeded to say, “I’m so sorry.” The press team issued a statement in response to the request to express an apology. He claimed, “I didn’t notice it.”
“I was absolutely horrified when I read the apology in the context of the story as it had been written. And I felt bad about myself and embarrassed about myself. because it always appears worse after receiving an apology.
It supports the narrative. Having to keep my counsel and let the narrative that I’m some sort of weirdo run has been a truly awful few months. I’m not a misogynist, I’m not any of these things. My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologize, was the statement that was made available on his behalf at the time.
The broadcaster has begun an investigation into his behavior, which is expected to be made public in a few weeks. Additionally, a BBC spokesperson previously confirmed that they had spoken with Wynne and that they “do not tolerate such behavior.”
We were not previously aware of the remark and had no complaints to file, according to a live tour spokesman. We have made it very clear to Wynne that we will not tolerate such conduct on the tour.
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Source: Mirror
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