Typically, announcing a new batch of Strictly Come Dancing contestants is drama-free, but this time around former The Apprentice contestant, Thomas Skinner, has sparked a fair bit of backlash – so much so, he's actively spoken out against the 'hate'.
"They say don't read the comments on social media. But I couldn't help myself. I've had absolute pellets all day on my Instagram [lots] about going on Strictly," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Why are some people so angry that don't even know me? Not Bosh."
Previously, Skinner also said, "Well the news is out about me going on Strictly. Never in a million years did I think I would receive the amount of messages of support (and also amount of hate).
"But thank you to everyone. You're absolutely legends. I'm gonna sit and have a few cold ones and take in what's actually going on."
For those not up to speed on Skinner's recent rage-baiting allegations drama, let's take a deep-dive...
Who is Thomas Skinner, set to appear on Strictly?
Skinner is a businessman and former contestant on The Apprentice, who appeared on the fifteenth series, and who went on to become known for his catchphrase 'bosh!'.
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Following the show, Skinner gained a following on social media, sharing daily snippets of his life and his love of a fry-up in his local café, and for his seemingly 'cheeky chappy' Essex boy/London border persona – something that he very much leans into. So far, so harmless. He has also appeared on 8 out of 10 Cats and Celebrity Masterchef.
However, in more recent weeks, his political affiliations with the likes of Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, and a now-deleted rage-baiting post have been getting him into a spot of bother.
The Thomas Skinner backlash explained
Recently, a now-deleted tweet from Skinner went viral and sparked a lot of pretty funny responses. In said tweet, Skinner seemed to imply he was being targeted or cancelled by the 'tofu-munching woke brigade' who are 'offended by a full English' and who think having a 'pint on a Friday is a hate crime', despite providing no evidence that this was actually happening (or that these people even exist).
Seriously, who on earth has ever called a Friday pint a hate crime? Other than Skinner. While seemingly trying to stir the pot for clout.
"I'll say this once, and I'll say it straight. Stop bending over backwards for the woke brigade. Who gives a toss!? Half of 'em get offended by a full English and the other half think a pint on a Friday is a hate crime," his now deleted post began.
"If you're a normal person and you get up early, graft all day, feed ya kids, love your country, and have a cheeky cuddle with the missus twice a week… Then you're winning at life. I couldn't care less if some tofu-munching helmet gets upset because I like red meat, a fry-up, and a cold Stella. Get a grip. That's living, mate."
Skinner went on to say "if someone's offended by you being normal then tell em to jog on, go knit a protest sign or hug a tree or whatever it is they do. We ain't got time for that nonsense. We're too busy earning a crust, raising our kids, and keeping the heating on".
One reply to said post, which amassed over 1,800 likes in support, simply read: "No one's cancelling your bacon. No one's calling your pint a hate crime. You've invented a culture war in your head and now you're acting like you're Churchill for surviving a Wetherspoons breakfast. You think people campaigning for a fairer country are the enemy? That wanting a clean planet, workers' rights, or basic decency makes someone less 'proper'? Grow up."
Ahem.
Skinner has also been accused of exaggerating his working class roots, with the Daily Mail recently reporting that he grew up in a home worth over £2.5 million and that he attended a fee-paying school in Brentwood, with rates today starting at £6,500 per term. He has previously said he won a scholarship to the school.
"I got a sports scholarship to a fantastic sports academy school, that I later got expelled for (for selling porno DVDs my dad got from me off his mate in the pub) and I was an idiot when I was younger," Skinner once tweeted when called out on his alleged faux Del Boy persona. "I grew up miles away from here and had to get buses there every day.
"I'm dyslexic and struggled with school, I was an extremely lucky child who got given the opportunity to go there, what's wrong with that? But I worked extremely hard to get myself there and I proud of that."
He was also convicted of handling £40,000 worth of stolen goods back in 2011.
So, what are Thomas Skinner's politics?
Despite calling himself "non-political", Skinner has been spotted wearing a MAGA hat and was recently pictured with divisive US Vice President, JD Vance, who despite repeatedly making disparaging comments about the UK, once calling it "the first truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon", seems happy enough to holiday here. He is currently on his way up to Scotland after spending some time in the Cotswolds.
When Trump was re-elected at the end of last year, Skinner also expressed his delight and described the President, who has been accused of sexual assault by numerous women (something he has strongly denied), including one who alleged she was underage at the time, as "brilliant".
Skinner also said he predicted Trump's return would benefit the UK's economy. In reality, the US has just slapped 10% tariffs on the country, which could make it harder for British businesses to ship and sell goods across the pond.
Trump's administration have also laid in to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government for (outrageously!) asking big US tech firms, like Apple, Google and Apple, to pay tax in the country via the Digital Services Tax scheme, which could benefit the economy.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
