Strictly Come Dancing duo Katya Jones and Luba Mushtuk told ‘we don’t want you back’ as feud over Russia divides pros
STRICTLY’S two Russian dancers have been told by their co-stars: “Condemn the war or don’t come back”.
Katya Jones and Luba Mushtuk have stayed silent following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
And now the show’s other dancers are split on how appropriate it would be for the pair to stay on the show, claiming it would be in “bad taste”.
Two of the other pros — Nikita Kuzmin, 24, and Nadiya Bychkova, 32 — are Ukrainian.
A source on the show said: “Tensions are high and there’s a lot of strong feeling about this.
“Some of the dancers would want producers to make a decision and say ‘You can’t come back for the next series’.”
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Katya and Luba, both 32 and both born in St Petersburg, are said to be unaware of the grumblings among their colleagues.
But they have also failed to speak out against the invasion. A source said: “Some of the professionals feel it’s in bad taste to have them on the show.
“It’s been discussed among a group of them and they are concerned about it affecting the programme and causing a backlash.
“Given they’re on the biggest show on television they are already open to criticism and they worry that this would only invite controversy.
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“Other parts of the industry are shunning Russians and it’s been suggested that Strictly does the same.
“There’s a feeling that it would not be appropriate for them to return.”
But the dancers are said to be split as some also feel that it is not Katya or Luba’s fault where they were born.
The insider added: “They’ve done nothing wrong and have been gutted by the scenes in Ukraine at the hands of their homeland.
“Some think they should not be punished for something entirely out of their control.”
But former pro James Jordan, 43, has called on them to publicly condemn Mad Vlad’s war.
He recently tweeted: “I don’t see many of the Russian dancers I know, and have even shared the Strictly dance floor with, openly speaking out about the war against Ukraine.
“But they are still promoting themselves on social media? Very disappointed.”
A spokesman for the BBC declined to comment.
Luba has competed in two series since joining in 2018, coming last and second last with rower James Cracknell and NFL player Jason Bell.
Katya won the 2017 series with Holby City actor Joe McFadden and was in the first same sex couple with boxer Nicola Adams in 2020.
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Luba was a back-up dancer last year, without a partner. Katya was paired with Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty.
It comes after we told how Russian ex-Strictly pro Kristina Rihanoff ranted on social media about how she didn’t “give a s**t about the war” and cared more about her livelihood.
