Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse threatened with jail by ex-husband over claims of control

Background

Motsi Mabuse, a judge on the popular show Strictly Come Dancing, is facing legal action from her ex-husband, Timo Kulczak. He is suing her for £70,000 after she made allegations in her autobiography that he controlled her and restricted her access to money. Motsi, however, has refused to settle the claim, which means the case is now heading to court.

Jail threat

Timo’s lawyers have taken the legal action a step further by asking the court to jail Motsi for up to six months or fine her £250,000 if she ever repeats the claims made in her book. This measure is part of a "cease and desist" clause in the writ. Timo's lawyer, Samy Hammad, stated that all they want is for Motsi to retract the statements and compensate his client for the damage done to his reputation.

Motsi's claims

In her autobiography, "Finding My Own Rhythm: My Story," Motsi alleges that during their 11-year marriage, Timo controlled her finances, rejected her desire to have a baby, and even decided what she ate. These allegations have been denied by Timo.

Legal demands

The writ filed by Timo demands that Motsi stop implying that he made her suffer during their marriage. It also requires her to publicly declare that the statements in her book and any press reports citing them are untrue.

The legal battle

The lawsuit has been filed at Offenburg regional court in Germany. Motsi, being a German citizen, cannot ignore it. She will be given a deadline to respond, and if she does not, a default judgment could be made against her. In the case of a hearing, Motsi or her lawyer would have to appear in court.

Motsi's personal life

Motsi and Timo met at a dance tournament and married in 2003. The couple divorced in 2014. Motsi, originally from South Africa, had moved to Germany at the age of 18 to be with him. She has since remarried her dance partner Evgenij Vozynuk, and they have a daughter together. They also run a dance school near Frankfurt.

Strictly Come Dancing

Motsi is well-known for being the sister of double Strictly winner Oti Mabuse. She joined the show's judging panel in 2019, replacing retired ballerina Darcey Bussell.

Comment

The Celeb Report has reached out to Motsi for a comment.