Women’s Aid slam BBC over Wynne Evans and Katya Jones’ hand grope scandal as they insist ‘inappropriate behaviour is no laughing matter’ – after the pair said it was ‘an inside joke’

Domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid has criticized the BBC following the Wynne Evans and Katya Jones ‘groping’ scandal.

The couple have come under fire this week after defending an awkward exchange during Saturday’s show, when Katya removed her hand from his waist and rejected a high-five.

Both Wynne and Katya have insisted that an awkward “hand incident” was the result of an inexplicable “inside joke”, and the BBC later confirmed that “Katya was not offended” and that “the production and welfare teams “they communicated” with both.

However, Women’s Aid criticized the couple’s response, insisting that “inappropriate behavior towards women is no laughing matter.”

In a statement to the sunThey said: ‘With an epidemic of misogyny and violence against women and girls in the UK, we need a media culture where women feel safe to speak out, where sexually inappropriate behavior is not trivialized or joked about.

“It is important that we challenge inappropriate ‘jokes’ so that we do not continue to normalize toxic attitudes that cultivate these forms of gender abuse.”

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Wynne Evans, Katya Jones and the BBC for comment.

Wynne, once a favorite for the Glitterball Trophy, is now in danger of being sent off and the bookies’ odds are 5/1 to be sent packing.

Fans also claimed they discovered the origin of Wynne and Katya’s inside joke, and many shared their thoughts with X about what the joke could be.

One person posted: “One explanation I was given was that they were making fun of other couples for all their hugging and kissing and that’s why they can’t tell what the joke was.”

Others added: “I actually think the Katya and Wynne drama was just a silly joke, you could tell how he was laughing, it was like she was telling an inside joke”;

‘I looked again: Katya was touching Wynne constantly while they were getting comments. She could have just held his hand if there was a problem between them. Wynne was laughing during the hand incident, which led me to believe it was a joke between them’;

‘I don’t know either of them, but if Katya says it was a joke, maybe it was. Neil punched Wynne in the stomach when he was going to talk to Claudia and that was clearly a joke’;

‘Katya and Wynne: The 5 best dodging. I think it was a private joke. The hand movement is probably not what it seems. Maybe W’s hand accidentally slipped and K was moving it back to avoid all this drama. I think everyone needs to relax and stop looking for drama;’

Katya He has defended his famous partner, declaring that he has been “portrayed as someone he is not”, while the pair insist their “wandering hand” incident was a silly prank.

In Monday night’s television appearance, Wynne He admitted that he had seen footage of the incident and confessed: “I can see how people may have misinterpreted it.”

Clinging to his arm, Katya said she “can’t stand” the criticism her co-star is receiving and was sympathetic that there was no crime.

She said: “The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is complete nonsense, and to those who have doubts, you have been wrong.” So I hope this is the end and you continue to make me smile.”

“I can’t sit here watching this man be portrayed as someone he’s not. In fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“So I have to make it absolutely clear that this whole incident, with the handshake and the high five on Saturday night, was an inside joke between Wynne and I. Was it a dumb joke? Yes, it was a sick joke.” taste? Yes.’

The incident caused such concern among BBC top brass, who have spent months quelling allegations of misconduct in previous series, that a welfare inquiry was carried out.