Layton Williams, the 29-year-old finalist of Strictly Come Dancing, has candidly shared his experiences in dealing with the backlash and criticism he faced during his appearance on the popular BBC dance competition.

Throughout his journey on the show, Layton faced routine criticism from viewers who questioned the fairness of his participation due to his extensive background in dance. The negativity he encountered took a toll on him, and he has now opened up about the challenges he faced.

In an interview with The Guardian, Layton revealed, “The past six months have been testing. Many people could have crumbled under the amount of attention I was getting, and there were moments when I was lying in bed, tears flowing, and thinking, ‘How am I going to be able to manage this?'”

Layton, known for his role in “Bad Education,” continued by explaining how he found the strength to persevere, saying, “But I got to a point where I had to believe that as long as my family and friends accepted me, that was all that mattered. My childhood also prepared me. I am so used to being scrutinised. I was leading a whole West End company, the star of the show, by the age of 12. Then the TV jobs came along, and I was inside the machine.”

Reflecting on his early career in the entertainment industry, Layton shared that his experiences had given him a thick skin. He expressed readiness to face any challenges that may come his way, stating, “It wasn’t like I was Lindsay Lohan, but working in this industry from a very young age gave me a thick skin. I’m now ready for all eventualities.”

The backlash Layton experienced on Strictly Come Dancing stemmed from viewers’ concerns that a trained musical theatre performer like him had an unfair advantage in the competition. At one point, even former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips stepped in to defend Layton and warned trolls to “back off” from the much-discussed star, who danced alongside Nikita Kuzmin. Nonetheless, some viewers continued to express their discontent, claiming, “He shouldn’t win; he’s too good!”

Layton Williams’s journey on Strictly Come Dancing has been marked by both challenges and triumphs, and he remains steadfast in his determination to pursue his passion for dance and performance.