Ex-Strictly star AJ Pritchard ‘absolutely devastated’ after career setback

AJ Pritchard recently competed on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro (Picture: ABC) Former Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard has shared his upset after suffering a career blow, saying: ‘I’m absolutely devastated, from every being in my body.’ From 2016 until 2019, AJ was a professional dancer on the BBC series, partnering up with celebrities including Mollie King and Saffron Barker. Seven years on, the 31-year-old has been competing in the US on a programme called Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, in a bid to join the pro line-up of the American version of Strictly. During his stint in the competition, Oti Mabuse posted a TikTok video sharing her views on ‘AJ the person’ versus ‘AJ the professional’, after he was criticised over the ‘intense’ training techniques he employed while partnered up with another dancer. Following the grand finale of the competition, judged by a panel including Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, AJ finished in second place behind the winner, 24-year-old Adele Zaikman. Get personalised updates on Strictly Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. AJ described how ‘enriching’ it was for him to be partnered up with DWTS winner Charli D’Amelio in the final episode, before admitting how ‘devastated’ he felt about the result, Entertainment Weekly reported. AJ was hoping to join the pro line-up for the American series (Picture: Disney/Vince Valitutti) Earlier on in the show, DWTS dancer Rylee Arnold, who AJ had been partnered up with during the semi-final, claimed that he was too critical of her as a dancer. ‘At the beginning I felt that lightheartedness, but I will say, he’s kind of intense,’ she said while giving the judges feedback on what he was like to work with. Mark Ballas, Shirley’s son and a judge on the programme, said to the camera in response: ‘I’m concerned with the AJ feedback.’ Rylee continued: ‘I don’t know if he’s going to be able to give affirmation to somebody. It was just constant critique.’ AJ’s fiancée Zara Zoffany called out Rylee in a social media comment, saying that he ‘would not have had to critique you in the first place if everything had been right’. She later issued an apology for her comment on TikTok, while also calling out DWTS fans who’d been sending AJ ‘hate’, questioning his sexuality and giving him the ‘villain edit’. @zarazoffany I am sorry Rylee 🫶🏼 I know whatever I say, people will disagree, but I just want to put this to bed, take accountability, and move on & celebrate all the finalists in tonights show ! 🙏🏼❤️ (Side note: when i mention ‘you guys’ its only the people who contributed to the hateful comments about AJ) ♬ original sound – ZaZa 💖 ‘Maybe Rylee did say some nice things about him, but I just feel like there’s a fine line between criticism and confidence, and when you’re so confident in your craft and you know the textbook so well, you want it to be perfect, because she already has a spot on Dancing with the Stars and she’s earned that spot,’ Zara said. ‘I just want to say if you are watching this Rylee, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry if I made you feel a certain type of way. That was never my intention.’ Writing in her caption, Zara said: ‘I am sorry Rylee 🫶🏼 I know whatever I say, people will disagree, but I just want to put this to bed, take accountability, and move on & celebrate all the finalists in tonights show!’ Speaking ahead of the finale, AJ said in a TikTok video: ‘I had so much fun in the finale. That’s what it’s about – dance is about having fun, spreading joy, and just going out there and leaving a lasting memory and a smile on everybody’s face.’ Following her win on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, Adele shared an Instagram post celebrating her achievement, writing in the caption: ‘Still can’t believe I WON!! 🖤😁 I’m honestly overwhelmed by all the love and support. AJ and his fiancée Zara met while filming the TV show The Challenge (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images) ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you! This journey challenged me, taught me so much, and gave me some incredible new friends along the way. So grateful for this experience and SO excited for what’s next. Now tune into DWTS to see a whole lot more DANCING! 🪩🕺.’ Oti recently called out AJ for comments that he made to The Sun about how he would ‘love to see more British dancers’ on Strictly, telling the publication: ‘We’re in the UK, I’m proud to be British, and there are so many fantastic boys and girls out there who would love the opportunity.’ In response, former Strictly star Oti said in a video posted online: ‘The most popular pros on Strictly have not been British. I’m talking Aljaz, I’m talking Giovanni, I’m talking Janette. Even now, Vito, Nikita, Alexis, Katya. Even back in the day, we’re going Vincent Simone, we’re going Ola Jordan, we’re going Kristina Rihanoff, we’re going Natalie Lowe. Those are the legends. And they’re not British. ‘So you can imagine that for a lot of people, that would have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. And also, Strictly is different. Out of all the brands, all the brands. No, we are global. Our professionals are global because that global mixture is what makes us beautiful and is what makes us special.’ Deals of the Day The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 A friend said I looked 'snatched' – I credit this new Charlotte Tilbury powder Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Arrow MORE: Strictly Come Dancing’s Nadiya Bychkova ‘complained to BBC about abusive colleague’ Arrow MORE: Weather presenter begs for broadcast to stop after breaking down in hysterics Arrow MORE: Giovanni Pernice claims Strictly partner Amanda Abbington ‘did Nazi salute as banter’ TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.