Strictly's Tasha Ghouri in tears over online hate after Love Island
Strictly's Tasha Ghouri speaks candidly about the issues of online harassment.
Tasha Ghouri was emotional during Saturday night's episode of Strictly Come Dancing as she spoke about the hurtful comments she has faced online because of her disability.
The 26-year-old reality TV star from Love Island and her dancing partner, Aljaz Skorjanec, wowed the judges with their performance of Pink's "What About Us," earning a remarkable score of 39, the highest of the series so far.
Prior to the dance performance, Ghouri, who was born without hearing and relies on a cochlear implant, became quite emotional while sharing her experiences with online bullies who created videos mocking her speech.
She shared that following her participation in the dating program Love Island in 2022, she was bombarded with harsh remarks, making her feel as though she had disappointed "the entire deaf community."
The individual, who is a model, writer, and podcaster from North Yorkshire, made history as the first deaf contestant on Love Island when she joined the ITV program. She ended up finishing in a tie for fourth place alongside her boyfriend Andrew Le Page, with whom she is still happily together.
Ghouri stated that she joined the show not only to seek love but also to help bring attention to issues facing the deaf community. However, she ended up becoming a target of online harassment instead.
"When I finished the show, I recall my dad sitting me down, looking me in the eye, and saying, 'Tash, a lot of terrible things have been said about you, particularly on social media.'"
People started creating videos about my voice and how I talk, and at one time, it became a trend.
Ghouri mentioned that the experience brought her to her lowest point.
"I aimed to advocate for representation, and I feel like I let not only myself down but also the entire deaf community," she expressed.
However, she was determined not to let the online bullies have the upper hand.
"I'm going to leverage my platform to raise awareness and inform others," she stated.
Currently, Ghouri boasts over 2.2 million followers on her social media channels.
She has collaborated with the Prime Minister’s office and the Department of Education to advocate for the rights and concerns of individuals who are deaf.
Before the beginning of this year’s Strictly series, Ghouri shared how significant this moment was for her.
"I can hardly believe that I'm going to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! I've been a fan of the show since childhood, and it's always been a favorite in the Ghouri household. This is truly a dream realized," she shared.
She appears three years after Rose Ayling-Ellis made history as the first deaf contestant on Strictly and ended up winning the competition.
JB Gill took the stage alongside Lauren Oakley, while Amy Dowden observed from the studio.
On Saturday night, the other 10 celebrities and their dance partners stepped onto the ballroom floor for the first Icons Week of Strictly Come Dancing.
Taylor Swift and Beyoncé were two of the celebrities recognized during the event.
JLS member JB Gill and his temporary dance partner Lauren Oakley reached the highest spot on the leaderboard alongside Ghouri and Skorjanec, achieving the top score so far in this year's competition.
Professional dancer Amy Dowden, who is teamed up with Gill, had to skip last Sunday’s results show after being hospitalized as a safety measure when she started to feel ill.
On Saturday's show, Oakley stepped in for her and teamed up with Gill to perform a medley of Bruno Mars songs, earning them a score of 39.
The tribute to icons will carry on into Sunday night, featuring professional dancers showcasing a medley of Beyoncé's hits. Johannes Radebe will embody the singer's alter ego, Sasha Fierce, during the performance.
