Strictly Come Dancing star Chris Robshaw has shared a defiant message to trolls, declaring: “Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but they won’t ruin this for me.”
Chris, who survived the first dance-off of the series with partner Nadiya Bychkova, added that, as long as he’s making sons Wilding, four, and one-year-old Hunter proud, he’ll be happy.
Chris Robshaw admits public support ‘means the world’
Speaking exclusively to Entertainment Daily, rugby ace Chris revealed he was “thrilled” to avoid the bottom two after his Movie Week paso doble to Sweet Child O’Mine from Thor: Love and Thunder.
He told us: “I am honestly thrilled. To have the public get behind me, it means the world. The fact they took the time and made the effort to vote for me, it’s given me hope that they can see I am trying my best and I really want to keep dancing.
The public are the most important judge, and I need to earn their vote.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on the dancefloor, and just want to do the Strictly fans proud. The public are the most important judge, and I need to earn their vote,” he added.
‘I’m trying to come out of my shell’
Despite finding himself in the dance-off alongside Thomas Skinner the previous week, Chris told us that he “can’t say there have been any lows” during his time on the BBC dance show. In fact, he’s even revealed that he’s “enjoying every single second – even the spray tans”.
“Every week is a high, I’m having the best time,” he said. Speaking about the show’s iconic Movie Week, he added: “Dressing up as Thor was a highlight, even though my lisp means I still can’t say his name right!
“Strictly has been a happy time. I can’t say there have been any lows. I know I need to get my confidence up, but I’m trying to come out of my shell a bit, and Strictly is helping me to do that.”
He added: “My biggest competition is my own brain. I can’t keep letting the anxious thinking win. I have to keep telling the negative part in my brain to be quiet. The feelings of not being good enough will always creep in, and I have to tell them to go away.”
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‘Trolls won’t ruin this for me’
Chris also revealed how he feels about criticism he’s received online – and it seems like any outside noise certainly won’t break the rugby star, who played for his country more than 60 times.
“As long as I am making my boys proud, and the public think I am worthy of staying in the competition, I am happiest. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Social media comments are part of the job, and trolls won’t ruin this for me. Luckily I have been inundated with love and support. So I feel so lucky and grateful. The public have been so supportive, and they’ve really got behind me,” he said.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given his background in team sports, Chris refuses to name his biggest competition on the show. Instead, he tells us: “I want to see my new mates on the show keep thriving. I feel like they are my teammates, which is a problem when we’re competing against each other. But I can’t help it!”
Catch Chris and Nadiya on Strictly Come Dancing Saturday (October 18) at 6.30pm on BBC One.
Read more: Chris Robshaw in surprising admission about the so-called Strictly curse
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