Strictly Come Dancing pro AJ Pritchard has caused concern that he might pull out of the live Strictly tour after the brutal attack he suffered on Boxing Day has left him on edge.
AJ, 24, and his dancer brother Curtis, 22, were set upon by a group of eight men while they celebrated with family at a club in their hometown of Cheshire over Christmas.
Now, AJ has confessed that the experience has made him “think twice” about being around large crowds, which he will have to do when he travels around the country and performs in multiple arenas for the dance tour.
The star, who was left with bruising on his face and body after the incident, said on This Morning today (2 January): “It [the incident] has made me very aware of putting myself in a scenario of larger crowds.
“Obviously I’m doing the ‘Strictly’ tour coming up and I will think twice …”
His comments caused fans to reach out to AJ and his brother and voice their support ahead of the Strictly tour, which starts later this month.
One tweeted: “Well done too both of them for speaking out about this! They’re right, it happens far too often & something needs to be done to stop it! I hope Curtis recovers soon & is able to dance properly again! Good luck to AJ for the Strictly tour!!”
Another added: “@Aj11Ace and @CurtisPritchard 2 of the nicest guys after watching them on @thismorning – despite everything, they remain positive, upbeat and don’t speak badly of the awful people who caused such pain to them. Get Curtis on @bbcstrictly this year with AJ!!! Great role models”.
@Aj11Ace and @CurtisPritchard 2 of the nicest guys after watching them on @thismorning – despite everything, they remain positive, upbeat and don’t speak badly of the awful people who caused such pain to them. Get Curtis on @bbcstrictly this year with AJ!!! Great role models 💙
— Hollie Savage (@hollie_1712) January 2, 2019
Well done too both of them for speaking out about this! They’re right, it happens far too often & something needs to be done to stop it! I hope Curtis recovers soon & is able to dance properly again! Good luck to AJ for the Strictly tour!!
— Jen (@jenstimp) January 2, 2019
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AJ added of the traumatising event: “The really sad thing in this scenario was that we were just out to have a good time, and it came from nowhere.
“There was none of us in the first place causing a hassle or anything, we were not there for that scenario, that’s what is really sad for us.”
AJ’s brother Curtis suffered the worst injuries and has had to pull out of his role on Dancing With The Stars Ireland following knee surgery.
Curtis appeared alongside AJ on This Morning, where he thanked his older brother for protecting him during the incident and said he thought perhaps the random attack was due to “jealousy”.
He explained: “I can only say it was maybe jealousy. AJ was getting photos from people.”
AJ is set to go on the Strictly tour with his dance partner from this series, Paralympian Lauren Steadman.
Lauren shared a sweet video during the boys’ This Morning interview, telling them “everyone is behind you”.
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We hope you’re both on the mend soon, boys.
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