Ekin-Su’s Dancing On Ice future in jeopardy as friends say she’s been ‘hung out to dry’
FRIENDS and family of Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu say she has been “hung out to dry” by Dancing on Ice bosses who sparked a backlash by giving her such a raunchy routine on last week’s show.
The winner of last year’s Love Island finished bottom in the voting after she performed a provocative dance while wearing a “nude” bodysuit to Britney Spears’ hit, Toxic.
Tomorrow the 28-year-old will be fighting for her place on ITV1 following a wave of complaints from viewers about her performance.
A source close to Ekin-Su said: “The general feeling among her family and friends is that she has ended up in this situation through absolutely no fault of her own.
“Ekin-Su was told what track she was skating too, what outfit she would wear and what moves she’d be delivering.
“The feeling was that the performance she gave didn’t go down well with viewers of a show which airs at teatime on a Sunday night, particularly one which is a favourite with familes.
“Obviously ITV bosses felt like a Love Islander used to being on screen in a bikini was a reasonable person to show in such a sexy outfit and routine.
“But the audience for the dating show, which always airs after the watershed due to its adult content, is totally different..
“It would have been difficult for Ekin-Su to predict the reaction, but the producers must have had some idea how far they could take things.
“And the feeling was they pushed things too far. The fact that she was at the bottom of the scoreboard shows there was something of a backlash.
Skate-off
“The fact she received complains would have only intensified the feeling – and now she has to skate for her survival on the show tomorrow with that backdrop.
“Ekin-su has publicly said she has no qualms about the routine and is putting on a brave face in light of what’s happened this week.
“But those closest to her feel angered on her behalf as they believe Dancing on Ice has hung her out to dry.”
Ekin-Su looked visibly bewildered when the result of the public vote was announced last Sunday and it was confirmed she’d have to perform in the skate off this week.
Her friends and family in the audience also looked stunned, as did her boyfriend David Saclimenti, 28, the Italian Love islander she won series eight of the ITV2 show with last August.
Then on Wednesday it was revealed that Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog hd received 113 complaints about the routine, which she performed with professional dance partner Brendyn Hatfield.
She tried to brush off the news, saying: “You know what? If you have ’em flaunt them,’ she told The Sun. I mean if you’ve got a nice bum and you look sexy in a unitard, why not. Who cares?”
Ekin-Su, who is of Turkish origin but has lived in London and Essex most of her life, was the fourth of the initial batch of six celebrities who took to the ice on the show, which aired between 6.30pm and 8pm last week.
She appeared wearing a “nude” mesh jumpsuit which had gems and mirrors covering her modesty.
It was a homage to the same outfit which Britney Spears wore in the video of the song, Toxic, which she released in 2004.
That’s despite the fact that the video in question saw the singer wear a string of sexy, but less explicit clothing which the Dancing on Ice costume designers could have chosen for inspiration.
Then, as the studio echoed to the sound of lyrics including: “I can’t wait, I need hit, baby give me it.”
Brendyn picked her up and, as she rested on his shoulders, she kicked things off by shaking her cleavage towards the camera.
Shortly after she was dropped onto the ice where she crawled, on all fours, towards the camera like a cat, before lying on her back with her limbs spread out before being pulled back to her feet and blowing a kiss to the viewers.
Then she was swung round by Brendyn, holding her by her waist as she spread her legs and wa spun round before the minute-long routine concluded.
The “ice panel” of judges – Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill giving her a total of 21.5 – which saw her finish fourth on the scoreboard behind EastEnder’s star Patsy Palmer and Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton.
Finishing ahead of her was boyband singer Siva Kaneswaran, Towie favourite Joey Essex and Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson.
But the viewing public were less bowled over and she found herself left standing with Michelle, before learning she alone would go on to the skate off.
Tomorrow she will face the skater who gets the least public votes from the second batch of DOI contestants who’ve yet to take to the ice.
They are former Hollyoaks actress Carley Stenson, drag artist The Vivienne, former footballer John Fashanu, comic Darren Harriott and Coronation Street star Mollie Gallagher.
Fortunately Ekin-Su won’t have to perform her Toxic routine again, as skaters get to deliver another routine to a different track when they are in the skate off.
ITV have refused to say what her new routine will be, but it’s believed it will be a drastically toned down number compared to last week’s.
Her representatives were contacted regarding claims Ekin-Su’s loved one’s were angry about her treatment on the show.
A spokeswoman for them simply said: “She’s really enjoying being part of the show and can’t wait to perform again this weekend.”
Since winning Love island last year, Ekin-Su has developed a close relationship with ITV bosses.
As well as signing for Dancing on Ice she also made a travelogue with boyfriend David for ITV2 called Homecomings, which aired last autumn.
It’s believed she also has other projects in the pipeline with the channel.
A spokesman for ITV declined to comment.
- Dancing on Ice continues tomorrow night at 6.30pm on ITV and ITVX.