Every time you think tensions can’t get any worse backstage on Dancing On Ice – the ante is, er, upped.
After judge Jason Gardiner gave an interview blasting contestant Gemma Collins as “lazy” and “mediocre”, her boyfriend, James ‘Arg’ Argent has hit back, slamming the choreographer as “disgusting & unprofessional.”
Taking to Twitter on Saturday afternoon, the TOWIE star took aim at Jason, 47.
A clearly furious Arg, 31, said: “Selling stories & lies for money and publicity. You’re supposed to be judging the routine & giving your opinion.
“Not slating a contestant who you’ve only just met. You haven’t given her a chance! It’s disgusting & unprofessional. She’s worked so hard & tried. What’s your problem!?”
His 1.5m followers piled in to comment on his rant, with one writing: “I agree with you @jamesArgent. This is entertainment, not a show of bullying and damn right rudeness from Jason Gardiner…. he ruins the show. Go GC you are brilliant and I love it that you guys are eventually together x.”
Another said: “Well done Arg for sticking up for your lady!”
A third wrote: “Hope Gemma’s ok, obviously been set up to be made little of, it’s a form of bullying @missgemcollins.”
Others defended Jason, with one tweeting: “He’s got a point though.” Another commented: “I’d look closer to home Arg. It’s your girlfriend who is unprofessional, although I applaud you for trying to stick up for your girlfriend. But I’m afraid we can all see through it.”
A third complained: “She is playing the GC as she always does. He is doing his job… hypocrisy.”
Gemma – who has denied diva claims – has yet to comment on the interview, only ‘liking’ a series of tweets from followers about negativity.
She liked one message that read: “@missgemcollins morning Hun, remember there’s only one GC and jealous trolls will be around, ignore and stay strong I know u can WIN WIN WIN @dancingonice.”
Another tweet Gemma liked said: “Why do people do it, I see an insecure lady who puts on a good smile despite all the trolls and bad press! I challenge anyone to deal with that and try and continue as normal! We’re all behind you Gemma!”
Gemma, 37, and Jason will come face-to-face as she performs her next skating routine with partner Matt Evers on Sunday night.
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In the interview with The Sun, Jason said: “I can always see who’s lazy. Gemma is lazy. She doesn’t look like her heart is in it at all. I do despair — at the state of our society today and also the entertainment industry.
“When I grew up people were [bleeping] good at what they did. They were exceptional at something, so you were inspired by people on TV. Now we celebrate mediocre in this country. That, it seems, has become the new celebrity.”
The 47-year-old judge added that he’s never watched TOWIE and hadn’t heard of Gemma before DOI, but revealed that he was excited to see what she came up with.
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Jason said: “I was so excited. But then she came out and did what can only be described as one of the most painful routines I’ve ever had to sit through because it looked so uncomfortable. I kept worrying that she was going to fall over and hurt herself.”
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