Strictly Come Dancing’s Amanda Abbington deletes social media over fears of trans activist backlash
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has been forced to shut down her Twitter profile over fears of a backlash from trans activists.
Insiders said the Sherlock actress — who has voiced concerns on how trans issues affect women’s rights — feared the row could overshadow the upcoming series of the BBC show.
In one tweet on March 2, Amanda wrote: “I lost quite a few followers for saying that a semi-naked man in thigh high boots dancing in a highly sexualised way shouldn’t be performing in front of babies and it tells me everything I need to know about where society is heading.
“How do you not agree with me on this?”
The message was viewed 2.2million times and got 1,827 retweets.
In another trans row, she wrote: “If you don’t actually have proper, real breast milk in your breasts, just don’t try and breastfeed your baby.”
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A source said: “After she was officially unveiled as a Strictly contestant there was a big backlash from activists to some of her Twitter views.
“She removed the account not long after so those tweets can no longer be jumped upon by people who do not agree with her views.”
The actress — who starred in Sherlock with former partner Martin Freeman — used to tweet under an account called “ChimpInSocks”.
Amanda, 49 — now engaged to BGT daredevil Jonathan Goodwin — has been banned from Twitter three times over complaints about her tweets.
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Trans activists were angry that the BBC signed her up for Strictly, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
One cited the tweet from Amanda about drag acts performing for children.
It has since been reposted alongside a 2020 scene from Strictly showing pro dancers Johannes Radebe, Gorka Marquez and Giovanni Pernice wearing dresses and high heels during a Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert dance.
Sharing Amanda’s tweet online, user Poppy said: “Does Amanda Abbington know what show she’s signed up for?”
Another fan, Paul Illett, added: “I’m hoping the next few reveals include a trans woman and a drag queen.”
Amanda apologised in 2020 for social media comments where she claimed people born with male anatomy cannot be referred to as women.
She said at the time: “I wish to profoundly apologise for the comment I made about trans people.
“It was ill-informed and incredibly hurtful.”
