Strictly Come Dancing fans have taken to social media in their droves after Amanda Abbington found herself trolled by trans activists following the announcement she was leaving the BBC show.
Abbington - who shared a poignant message on Instagram after withdrawing from Week Five of the contest - faced "boycott" calls from woke activists this series before she'd even taken to the dancefloor.
The trolling stems from a series of tweets Abbington shared on her now-deleted X, formerly known as Twitter, account in which she shared her thoughts on trans issues and drag queen performances in front of children.
The Sherlock star had previously branded a drag show aimed at parents with babies as “abhorrent” while she'd also tweeted separately: "You cannot have a penis and be referred to as a woman."
Prior to the series starting, Abbington released a lengthy Instagram video in which she denied being transphobic due to “stupid” and “ill-informed” past comments.
But her statement and participation in the show weren't enough to satisfy trans trolls online who've now targeted the BBC Strictly Instagram account after it announced her permanent withdrawal from the competition.
"Sadly Amanda Abbington is leaving Strictly 2023," the Strictly account wrote alongside a snap of Abbington and her pro partner Giovanni Pernice.
Amanda Abbington has quit Strictly for good
BBC
The official statement was printed on the picture as it read: "Amanda Abbington is unable to continue in Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to withdraw from the competition.
"The show wishes her all the best for the future."
A number of Abbington's Strictly co-stars took to the comments to show their support for the actor, including the likes of Angela Scanlon, Luba Mushtuk, Zara McDermott and many more.
Pernice even broke his own silence on the situation with a touching post to his celebrity partner following the decision to quit the show.
However, among the comments were a vast number of trans activists who flooded the post with their unsympathetic comments.
"Goodbye! Won’t miss you trans rights are human rights," one Instagram user wrote while a second brutally penned: "Thank god for that! Byeeeeee," followed by a series of trans flags.
"Trans rights are human rights," another simply put while a fourth hit out: "Thank christ for that, anyways #transrights."
Spotting the volume of hateful comments aimed Abbington's way at such a sensitive time led to a number of Strictly fans jumping to her defence.
"Why aren't people allowed to have opinions anymore in fear of upsetting the wrong person or latest terminology!!" one Strictly fan fumed. "You believe what you believe. Educate yourself and leave it at that.
"We've all said things we possibly regret but it doesn't have to define you. All of these bullying comments are now way more 'abhorrent'!!!"
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A second weighed in: "The abuse she got online was despicable, wishing her all the best."
"All these horrible comments! Don’t know how you can look yourselves in the mirror. Just be nice," a third pointed out while a fourth similarly defended: "She was a great dancer and as much as I disagree with some things she has said, no one deserves to be trolled and especially to the point where they have to quit.
"Compassion is the way, spreading hate just feeds the hatred fire when we should be putting it out. Be kind, always," they added before a fifth raged: "Cancel culture again!! Disgusting and all these younger gen use #bekind when they are anything but!" (sic)
Abbington has yet to take to social media since the news of her withdrawal was announced.
