James Cracknell criticizes Strictly Come Dancing for ‘humiliating him’ in backstage outburst after elimination

What happened?

Olympian James Cracknell expressed his disappointment and frustration with Strictly Come Dancing after being eliminated from the show. The 52-year-old participated in the 17th series of the BBC dance competition in 2019, where he was paired with Luba Mushtuk. Unfortunately, they were the first couple to leave the show after losing the dance-off to David James and Nadiya Bychkova.

Backstage meltdown

Reports from The Celeb Report revealed that James Cracknell had a backstage meltdown following his elimination from Strictly Come Dancing. An insider shared that he was livid, feeling humiliated and unfairly treated. Known for his competitive nature as a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Cracknell was reportedly upset at not being given a fair chance on the show, considering it a career failure.

Post-elimination reflections

After his exit from the show, James Cracknell made it clear that he had no intentions of dancing again. In his Radio Times column, he admitted to avoiding activities he knew he wouldn't excel in and considered appearing on Strictly as a brave yet challenging experience. Despite the disappointment, he acknowledged the personal growth and self-discovery the show brought him, jokingly mentioning that he now had an excuse to decline any future dance requests.

Strictly Come Dancing was ultimately won by Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse, with Cracknell reflecting on his short-lived but impactful journey on the popular dance competition.