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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the male dancers on Strictly..

46 replies

RagamuffinAndFidget · 21/10/2015 11:49

..have to put up with quite a lot of low-level harassment from the presenters? From Claudia in particular. One of the new dancers, Gleb, is constantly subjected to 'jokes' of a vaguely sexual nature - lots of references to his body and taking his shirt off, and a couple of the returning dancers have to put up with the same thing too. Perhaps I'm just reading too much into it but I think if it was male presenters making those kinds of remarks about the female dancers I think a lot more people would be complaining.

OP posts:
pearpotter · 21/10/2015 11:52

Yes I agree, makes me cringe and they should stop it.

101handbags · 21/10/2015 11:52

YADNBU - I've said the same thing to my DP many times. Then again, nobody forced Gleb to take his shirt off the other night.

Lottapianos · 21/10/2015 11:52

Yes, I think it is a bit excessive OP. I would be really uncomfortable if a male presenter was constantly leching over the female dancers boobs and legs.

Katie2001 · 21/10/2015 11:53

I am conflicted on this one, although I know it is wrong, I quite enjoyed Gleb taking his shirt off.

Thurlow · 21/10/2015 11:55

I agree. We were just having this conversation at work, actually.

There's something happening in general over the past few years where it's apparently fine and amusing and all very tongue in cheek to make the kind of comments about men and their bodies that would be considered way OTT if they were made about women's bodies.

I don't mind it particularly - I get the impression Gleb is in on the joke and fine with it - but it is borderline at the moment.

WorraLiberty · 21/10/2015 11:55

I rarely watch it, but I saw it the other week and I must admit I thought Claudia came across as a bit creepy, so YANBU.

Thurlow · 21/10/2015 11:57

Katie, I know - half of me is thinking "ew, that's all a bit unreasonable" and the other half of me is thinking, "well, if it was Pasha taking his shirt off..." Blush Grin

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 21/10/2015 11:58

101handbags you're right re Gleb taking his shirt off.. I wonder how much choice they have about whether or not to go along with this stuff though.

OP posts:
pearpotter · 21/10/2015 12:25

Gleb seems to love the attention and plays up to it, not sure some of the others do. But it doesn't really matter, I agree with the OP.

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 21/10/2015 12:26

Maybe Gleb hasn't been there long enough to get sick of it yet? Wink Some of the other dancers seem to be laughing with gritted teeth a lot of the time..

It just makes me feel quite uncomfortable, so it's good to know I'm not alone in this!

OP posts:
DawnOfTheDoggers · 21/10/2015 12:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PuppyMonkey · 21/10/2015 12:50

Yeah Gleb looked really uncomfortable with it. Hmm

I think after all the years women had of this sort of thing from male TV presenters, it's amusing to see two female presenters on prime time TV giving it back. Grin

Taking ownership - isn't that what they call this type of thing?

Imchangingmyname · 21/10/2015 13:11

I agree, if that were Len doing and saying those things to Ola, there would be an absolute uproar, whether she was playing up to it or not.
There seems to be one rule for women and another for men. Makes me worry for my DS tbh.

Rebecca2014 · 21/10/2015 13:27

"Makes me worry for my DS!!" LOL. Your son as a man is still very much privileged compared to women so stop being silly.

Personally I think its nice to see men being leered at the way women constantly are in the media. Gleb seemed to enjoy it, he even took his shirt off willingly!

SurferJet · 21/10/2015 13:29

Yanbu - I find Claudia really creepy.

DrGoogleWillSeeYouNow · 21/10/2015 13:31

YANBU - Claudia in particular has crossed the line into creepy perv territory.

FatherReboolaConundrum · 21/10/2015 13:33

I very much doubt that Gleb has a problem with this, at least if his range of dance themed underwear is anything to go by.

pudcat · 21/10/2015 13:41

I am so pleased others think like this - I wondered if I was being a fuddy duddy. I really cringe when Darcy Bussell starts getting hot under the collar and leering over the male dancers. And why do dances have to be sexy? I now record the programme and just watch the dancing.

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 21/10/2015 13:47

Father So because a man has an underwear range that makes him fair game for crass comments? Would you apply the same logic to Elle Macpherson or any of the other beautiful women who have released underwear ranges?

I fail to see why we are allowed to be irritated by these kinds of comments when they're directed at women, yet it's fine when it's directed at men because 'we've put up with it for a long time'. Surely it's not OK for anyone and we should just stop it altogether?

OP posts:
Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 21/10/2015 13:48

Imchanging I couldn't imagine Len behaving like that! Bruno, on the other hand....

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 21/10/2015 13:48

It really annoys me. I have taught my DS that a rough test of whether something is OK is what the reaction would be if it were reversed (generally in the context of derogatory remarks about girls). There are so many comments on Strictly which would fail that test. It's depressing, not "refreshing", and certainly not entertaining.

KitZacJak · 21/10/2015 14:13

I noticed that too. It is strange that when a woman says something innuendo -ey about a man it is accepted but if a man said the same to a women he would be a sleezy pervert.

This happens in so many areas of life now. For example, my son is 11 and a friend has already commented in a bit of a jokey (pervy) way about going out with him and his friends when he is older!!! Imagine if a man in his forties said that about an 11 year old girl!!

ZoeTurtle · 21/10/2015 14:17

KitZacJak what makes you think it's okay for your friends to do that? It isn't. You do know you don't need other people to tell them it's unacceptable? Confused

FatherReboolaConundrum · 21/10/2015 14:20

I meant that I don't get the impression he has a problem with being shirtless in front of a camera. Given the completely bizarre 'Gleb special' move he pulled the other week I doubt he has a problem with suggestive content in general, but maybe he likes dreaming up routines where he appears to be shagging his partner on the studio floor but is actually deeply embarrassed by female presenters making comments about how sexy he is.

It's not just comments directed at male pros by female presenters and judges, though - everyone kept banging on about Katie Derham's gorgeous legs at the start of this series, and normally Craig and Bruno have an eye for one or two of the male celebs, who often play up to it (Gavin Henson kissing Bruno, Ben Cohen getting Bruno in a clinch). There have been times when Len has seemed a bit of a lech with some of the female celebs, but never towards the female pros.

KitZacJak · 21/10/2015 14:24

Don't worry, I made it clear I thought it was unacceptable!! What I meant was she seemed to think it was OK. She won't be commenting on my sons again ;)