Dancing On Ice’s Rufus Hound ‘falls out with pro partner Robin Johnstone amid backlash over tweets’
Dancing On Ice’s Rufus Hound ‘falls out with pro partner Robin Johnstone amid backlash over historic tweets… as it’s claimed Matt Richardson is being lined-up to REPLACE him’
- Earlier this week, old racist and homophobic tweets resurfaced in which he used the word ‘r****d’ in 2011
- Dancing on Ice bosses faced calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack
- The latter tweets are said to have caused a ‘falling out’ between Rufus and his pro skating partner Robin
- It has now been claimed that Dancing On Ice are said to be lining up Matt Richardson as a replacement for Rufus on the show
- It comes as Rufus, who has been self-isolating, revealed on Friday that he had tested positive for Covid but is now at the end after a ‘very mild case’
- Dancing On Ice declined to comment on the new reports
- They instead told MailOnline: ‘This week Rufus Hound came into contact with someone outside of the show who tested positive for Covid 19.
- ‘This means, following government guidelines, he will isolate for ten days. We are hoping to welcome him back to the ice soon.’
- It comes after the comedian was reportedly told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’ after the old tweets resurfaced
- Hound has branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid ‘
Dancing On Ice star Rufus Hound has reportedly fallen out with his pro partner Robin Johnstone amid the backlash over the comedian’s historic tweets.
Earlier this week, old tweets resurfaced in which the contestant, 41, used the word ‘r****d’ in 2011, referred to Ed Sheeran as a ‘gay lord’ and tweeted racist words, including the n-word in 2012.
It came after bosses faced calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack in 2017, which is said to have caused a falling out between the comedian and pro skater Robin.
Claims: Dancing On Ice star Rufus Hound has reportedly fallen out with his pro partner Robin Johnstone amid the backlash over the comedian’s historic tweets (pictured earlier this month)
It has now been claimed by The Sun that Rufus allegedly appeared to ‘glorify’ Peter Wyngarde’s banned song from the 70s When Sex Leers Its Inquisitive Head in an old podcast.
While the publication has also claimed that Dancing On Ice are said to be lining up Matt Richardson as a replacement for Rufus on the show.
The comedian is alleged to have said in the podcast: ‘Have you heard his album? Oh my s! It starts with literally a seduction.
‘And one track, I s**t you not, is his take on how rape works in different countries, doing the different ’70s racist accents of the people committing the rape.
Backlash: Earlier this week, old tweets resurfaced in which the contestant, 41, used the word ‘r****d’ in 2011, referred to Ed Sheeran as a ‘gay lord’ and tweeted racist words, including the n-word in 2012
New recruit? It has also been claimed that Dancing On Ice are said to be lining up Matt Richardson as a replacement for Rufus on the show (pictured in 2018)
‘It sounds like I must be making it up in order to make it weirder for you to struggle to make you believe. It absolutely genuinely exists — and I urge you all to buy it.’
The new claims come after Rufus revealed on Twitter on Friday night that he had Covid, revealing he had isolated as soon as coming into contact, tested five days later and is at the end of having it. He said it was a ‘very mild case’.
It was revealed last week that the comedian had been self-isolating after coming into contact with the virus.
A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses are panicking that Rufus is bad for the show and his comments have upset Robin and some of the other pros.
‘They are a diverse and multicultural bunch and it’s embarrassing and disappointing that someone who makes these insensitive jokes is allowed on the show.
Further backlash: The Sun reports that Rufus allegedly appeared to ‘glorify’ Peter Wyngarde’s banned song from the 70s When Sex Leers Its Inquisitive Head in an old podcast (pictured in 2013)
‘Fallout’: It came after Rufus tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack in 2017, which is said to have caused a falling out between the comedian and pro Robin (pictured in show still)
‘Robin is all about empowering women and being positive and it’s been tough for her to stomach. His comments have been outrageous.’
MailOnline has contacted both Matt and Rufus’ representatives for comment.
The Sun also claimed that Dancing On Ice are said to be lining up Matt Richardson as a replacement for Rufus on the show.
However, a Dancing On Ice representative declined to comment on the reports and instead told MailOnline: ‘This week Rufus Hound came into contact with someone outside of the show who tested positive for Covid 19.
‘This means, following government guidelines, he will isolate for ten days. We are hoping to welcome him back to the ice soon.’
They added: ‘We have stringent protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of all our contributors and staff which are routinely monitored and updated to reflect the current guidelines.’
Claim: Earlier this week, it was reported that bosses were ‘refusing to axe Rufus Hound’ after historic tweets by the star using racist and homophobic slurs resurfaced
On Friday night, Rufus, who has been battling coronavirus, took to Twitter to confirm he would be missing this weekend’s show due to the virus, after missing last week’s.
He said: ‘I’ve had Covid. Isolated when I knew I’d come into contact with it, tested five days later, am coming to the end of having had it, luckily v mild case.’
Earlier this week, it was reported that bosses were ‘refusing to axe Rufus Hound’ after historic tweets by the star using racist and homophobic slurs resurfaced and he was told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’.
A source claimed to The Sun that ITV was being hypocritical with Hound – following the axing of I’m A Celebrity star Jack Maynard back in 2017 after tweets emerged of him using racist and homophobic slurs.
A source told the website: ‘Dancing On Ice have made their position clear and while Rufus’s tweets have been quietly condemned, right now it’s not being seen as an offence which would require his removal.
‘It seems there is one rule for some, and one for another. After Jack was taken off I’m A Celebrity for the same kind of tweets, it was assumed that Rufus would be told he should step down.
‘But it’s been made clear to those working on the show that they’re standing by him.’
Backlash: The Sun reported the comedian was been told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’ after old tweets from the star resurfaced in which he used offensive slurs (pictured on the show with partner Robin Johnstone)
It was previously reported Dancing on Ice bosses were facing calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack.
The comedian stirred outrage among MPs and bomb victims who want him axed from the show for retweeting the unsubstantiated claims – coincidentally Mr Hound is now isolating for ten days after coming into contact with coronavirus and will not be appearing on this week’s show.
Mr Hound retweeted: ‘Given the attacker was known to MI5, the timing seems fortunate for May that an attack ‘slips through’ as Labour are making progress.’
He then added his own comment, suggesting that May, the Prime Minister at the time of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombings, had planned the attack to help the Tories win the election, The Sun on Sunday reports.
Unearthed: Hound used shocking racist slurs in a tweet from 2012 which contained the n-word
Tweets: He also branded Ed Sheeran a ‘gay lord’ in a 2012 tweet and used the word ‘r****d’ in a 2011 tweet
The conspiracy theorist wrote: ‘Apologies for mild tinhattedness, but I’ve been thinking the same. Esp. as she was Home Secretary for so long.’
He later tweeted that he was not suggesting it was true, but that he believed it could be possible, adding: ‘I guess I’m not really alleging it as true, more that I don’t believe our establishment is incapable of such evil. Especially during an election.’
MP Rob Halfon told The Sun on Sunday: ‘This is horrific.’These trivial remarks are deeply offensive to victims of the Manchester attack.’
Whilst another Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke told the publication that it was ITV’s ‘moral responsibility’ to ‘chuck out’ contestants using the show as a political platform.
Report: Earlier this week it was reported Dancing on Ice bosses were facing calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack
Horror: A scene following the Manchester Arena attack at an Ariana Grande concert
Jade Clough, 33, from Stockport, who was hit by shrapnel at the Manchester attack carried out by Salman Abedi, told The Sun on Sunday that the claims were ‘outrageous’ and said the celebrity’s actions could make people feel it was ok to share similar unsubstantiated claims.
ITV declined to comment on the matter, MailOnline contacted Hound’s representatives for comment at the time.
Ahead of the report on his historic tweets last Sunday, Hound shared a link to tweets originally posted in September 2020, in which he responded to criticism of his posts.
The thread read: ‘Hi there Occasionally for different reasons, people trawl through my timeline (I’ve been on this site for 11 years, so that’s a fair bit of material) to find stuff that they can take offence at or inspire offence in others with.
Tweets: In a series of tweets made in 2017 Mr Hound shared his view that the government were not ‘incapable of such evil’
‘So, I just want to make something abundantly clear: When I was a stand-up and a younger man, the culture on here was much darker and edgier. I made jokes about race, sexuality, politics… everything.
‘You may not like those jokes. You may find those jokes offensive or upsetting. And if you do, there’s a very good chance that I hadn’t thought about them or the subjects they covered enough.
‘Hell, I put out a Comedy Central Special that was almost entirely about oral sex and when I watch it back (I have done this only once in the last 6 years) there’s stuff I wish I hadn’t said, or said differently or just flat out don’t like.’
He continued: ‘My point is this. For the last few years, I have largely absented myself from the pop mainstream. Stopped doing panel shows, only went on quizzes when I could win money for charities etc. Theatre’s what I’ve been doing and that comes at enormous personal cost.
‘Cost of time, money and relationships. But I LOVE it. As anyone who knew me from birth to 19 and they’ll tell you. It’s all I ever wanted to do. And now I get to do it. Or did, before… y’know….’
He branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid and hurtful. I, sincerely, try to understand and do better. Ask anyone who knows me. I am not short of thinking. Paralysingly, sometimes.
‘I’m not aware of anything specific coming my way, hand on heart. This isn’t one of those moments where my publicist has phoned me and said they’ve found my prints on the body (I don’t even have a publicist. Well, I did but they died in mysterious circumstances. And I wear gloves)
Response: Ahead of the report on his historic tweets on Sunday, Hound shared a link to tweets originally posted in September 2020, in which he responded to criticism of his posts
Regret: He branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid and hurtful’
‘… it’s more that I just want to say people change. People grow. People improve. Whilst I still have endless improvements to make, undoubtedly, I’m trying.
‘So, if a load of old s**t I came out with years ago offends you or upsets you, know that there’s a very good chance it offends and upsets me too, which is why I stopped saying it.’
He continued: ‘I believe in equality of opportunity, in love as a superpower, in women. I believe you should be free to do anything you like as long as it doesn’t endanger the physical wellbeing of other people.
‘I believe that who you are and who you choose to be should be met with kindness by the world. I believe no one person has any more intrinsic value than any other. I believe we should be working together to make the world a better place for all of humankind.
‘I believe we can all be better if we choose to be and shouldn’t be defined by our worst days. I believe that, when all is said and done, Salt and Vinegar Squares are the absolute best crisps.’
‘And all I can ask you to think of me is this: Imperfect man, trying to be kind, sane and funny in an unkind, mad, bleak world. Thank you for coming to my [bloa]TED [sense of self regard] talk x.’
