Gemma Collins was naked backstage – not upset after Dancing on Ice spat

The reality star was accused of refusing to return to the ice
Defending: Gemma Collins with her Dancing on Ice partner Matt Evers
David Parry/PA
Emma Powell22 January 2019
The Weekender

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Gemma CollinsDancing on Ice partner Matt Evers has shut down speculation over where they were during the voting countdown on Sunday night’s show after viewers accused Collins of refusing to return to the ice following her spat with Jason Gardiner.

Viewers joked the TOWIE star had gone for a “nap” after she branded the judge “boring” and accused him of “selling stories” about her.

But Evers has revealed Collins was unable to jump back in front of the cameras as she was naked backstage.

“We were fine,” he told Heart Breakfast. “What happens after we skated – and it happened with Melody Thornton as well – we had a quick change.

“We have to get set in to our second costume for the skate-off, so we were basically running around naked backstage.

“We got a lot of backlash again on social media, ‘how come they weren’t in that shot, how come they weren’t getting interviewed? We had a quick change.”

Having fun: Gemma Collins and Matt Evers on the ice
PA

Collins faced a backlash from viewers after she swerved a place in the dreaded skate-off, despite finishing bottom of the leaderboard, which saw Richard Blackwood booted off over Saira Khan.

Many were outraged with one tweeting: “Absolute travesty that Richard Blackwood was voted off #DancingOnIce yet Gemma ‘no talent’ Collins stays on.”

Another added: “I am absolutely disgusted. Gemma Collins did absolutely no skating whatsoever then threw a hissy fit. Neither Richard or Saira deserved to be in the skate off. It’s so unfair.#DancingOnIce.”

Gemma Collins - In pictures

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Collins jumped for joy on surviving to skate another week and later thanked Piers Morgan and her fans for supporting her through a “tough” week.

“Thank you to everyone who supported me it’s been a tough week,” she posted on Instagram. “@thepiersmorgan @gmb #teamcollins .... #next .... #boring.”

She also shared a clip from Ariana Grande’s video for Thank U, Next which had replaced Grande’s famous line with Collins shouting “boring, next”.

Dancing on Ice is on ITV, Sunday at 6pm

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