Strictly star hits out at BBC over 'lack of care' with lengthy statement
After his departure from the Strictly Come Dancing live tour, which led to a four-month investigation, Wynne Evans was axed from his BBC Radio Wales show.
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Wynne Evans has lashed out at the BBC with a lengthy statement, claiming that the broadcaster showed a "lack of empathy, care or any proper duty" when he was cut from the Strictly Live Tour.
In the wake of his departure, which led to a four-month investigation, Wynne was axed from his BBC Radio Wales show. He claims he has received no mental health support from the BBC in the last few months as he tried to come to terms with his situation. The opera singer has also confessed that he contemplated taking his own life as he sank into a deep depression following his Strictly Come Dancing scandal. He left the tour after making a comment that was deemed sexually inappropriate during a photo call.
On Instagram, he stated, "I wanted to share this part of my submission to the BBC because I think it shows how, throughout this whole process, there was a real lack of sympathy, empathy, or any proper duty of care.
"Just to be clear — I’m not sharing this because I want people to feel sorry for me. My mental health challenges are part of my life, and I’ve always tried to face them head-on. But I also know that not everyone is in the same position, and I don’t want anyone else to have to go through something like this in the future."
He continued: "For context: I submitted this evidence to the BBC on March 12th. Despite this, they kept me waiting for over two months before giving me any decision — even though, according to their own HR, the decision had effectively been made on day one. That long wait only made an already difficult situation so much harder.
"I’m speaking out because organisations only change when people hold them to account. If my experience helps to stop someone else going through the same thing, then it’s worth sharing."
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A BBC spokesperson told Express Online, “We provided comprehensive duty of care for Wynne that included support by wellbeing professionals. He was also provided with direct access to a designated contact at the BBC, who was available to assist him at any time, plus he has been offered continued support since his contract with the BBC concluded.”
Wynne has recently opened up on the severe toll the situation took on his mental health, admitting he went to his "lowest ebb" and required constant support from his friends and family to pull him through.
The Welsh singer, who got engaged to his girlfriend Liz Brookes over the weekend while they were on holiday in Marrakesh, Morocco, now regrets agreeing to appear on Strictly Come Dancing, describing the talent show as a "pressure cooker".
He said on This Morning, “For me, I wouldn’t do it. I didn’t think it was a safe environment for me to do Strictly. I wouldn’t do it. I loved the dancing, I love Katya, I love Janette, I love all the guys who were there. It was just the attention, it was a pressure cooker. I’m happy now to be back in Wales."
