Amy Dowden Responds to Brendan Cole's Criticism with Mariah Carey Clapback
Amy Dowden, who made history as the first Welsh professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, addressed criticism from former professional Brendan Cole, who suggested she was "not up to" the competition. Rather than responding directly, Dowden shared a video of herself miming to Mariah Carey's "Obsessed," captioned "If you know, you know," along with the hashtag "be kind." This response garnered admiration from fans and fellow dancers, including Aljaž Škorjanec and Dianne Buswell. Dowden and her partner Chris Appleton were the first couple eliminated in the 2026 series. After being diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in 2023, she has undergone two mastectomies and chemotherapy. The show will return on 17 October at 18:15 BST.
Key facts
- Amy Dowden is the first Welsh professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, joining in 2017.
- Brendan Cole was a Strictly professional from the show's launch in 2004 until 2017.
- Cole told Sky Vegas that Dowden was "not up to" the challenge and had been "out first for the last few years."
- Dowden responded with a video miming Mariah Carey's "Obsessed" and asking, "Why are you so obsessed with me?"
- Her post included the caption "If you know, you know" and hashtags "be kind" and "in a world where you can be anything, be kind."
- Fellow Strictly professionals Aljaž Škorjanec, Dianne Buswell, Kevin Clifton, and Carlos Gu showed support, with Gu calling it "iconic as always."
- Dowden and partner Chris Appleton were the first eliminated from the 2026 series, losing a dance-off to Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu.
- Dowden was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in 2023 at age 32 and has had two mastectomies, chemotherapy, and fertility treatment.
- Strictly Come Dancing returns to iPlayer and BBC One from 18:15 BST on Saturday 17 October.
Entities
Artists
- Amy Dowden
- Brendan Cole
- Chris Appleton
- Mariah Carey
- Aljaž Škorjanec
- Dianne Buswell
- Kevin Clifton
- Carlos Gu
- Stacey Dooley
- Sarah Hadland
- Jaime Winstone
- Thomas Skinner
- Kim Kardashian
- Ariana Grande
Institutions
- Strictly Come Dancing
- BBC One
- iPlayer
- Sky Vegas
- The Apprentice
Locations
- Caerphilly
- Wales
- United Kingdom