Strictly made history with its first-ever same-sex dance routine and, unsurprisingly, the world didn’t end

Nov 04 2019
Written by Josh Milton

Johannes Radebe (L) and Graziano di Prim became the first same-sex duo to dance on Strictly Come Dancing. (Screenshot via Twitter)

Strictly Come Dancing made history after the dancing show staged its first-ever same-sex dance routine and Armageddon didn’t take place afterwards.

Viewers of the BBC One show also reported a severe lack of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and hellfire across the UK following the slot’s airing.

Dancing to Emeli Sande’s ‘Shine’, Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prim swirled across the ballroom floor and brought fans and judges alike to tears in the much anticipated performance.

**‘At long last’: Strictly viewers eutrophic over the ground-breaking routine.**

Di Prima, 25, and newcomer Radebe, 32, were first rumoured to be making the ground-breaking act earlier this month, becoming the first same-sex couple to sashay in the 15-year-history of the show.

Speaking about the dance, Johannes told HELLO! magazine: “I’ve never felt so liberated. For the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am. That says so much about the people of this country.

Making the #Strictly Ballroom Shine even more than usual (if that's possible!), put your hands together for @emelisande. ?✨ pic.twitter.com/R8yi2QYQhi

— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 3, 2019

“To be able to dance with a friend I respect and adore is joyous. There’s bromance galore between us, but there were no male and female roles, just free movement.

“It was beautiful, classy and elegant.”

Hundreds of viewers logged-into Twitter to express their joy at seeing a same-sex couple on a national prime time show:

Look at that. A same sex couple dancing together and lo and behold the sky didn’t fall in. More of this please Strictly. #Strictly https://t.co/g3JX2BTY1O— colin macfarlane (@Cmacf76) November 3, 2019

At long last. More of this please. How many gay kids will have seen this, seen themselves, in a mainstream, flagship @bbc prime time show? So vitally important because #RepresentationMatters. Round of applause @bbcstrictly and the gorgeous @jojo_radebe & @GrazianoDiPrima https://t.co/nYuRwRWSfU— ⚫ Sparkle Sparkle Dolphin Sparkle (@emceebeere) November 4, 2019

The music. The dancing. The smiles. The sheer joy.

THIS is what @bbcstrictly is all about ❤️ https://t.co/HjDp1Ez5WH— Ranj Singh (@DrRanj) November 3, 2019

Imagining all the queer kids watching this quietly in living rooms in Yorkshire and seeing all the dances in their future ? https://t.co/hDdFfJWRtk

— Juno Dawson (@junodawson) November 3, 2019

Although the routine attracted the barbed complaints of some homophobes, LGBT+ Twitter was quick to put critics in their place:

Great, fuck off then.— Steven Perkins (@stevenperkins) November 3, 2019

What is especially more “dreadful” are attitudes such as yours. If you genuinely feel this way then you don’t understand @bbcstrictly at all. The whole programme is about inclusion in more ways than just involving people who can’t dance.— Craig (@craigwill1982) November 3, 2019

This was absolutely stunning @jojo_radebe @GrazianoDiPrima – I’m appalled at some of the comments… I mean come on people it’s two people dancing together and very well…. can you just not enjoy the artistry? https://t.co/EUoNnGmxcC— Robin Windsor (@Robinwindsor) November 3, 2019

Yet, while the bulk of viewers welcomed the performance, others labelled the routine itself a “cop-out”:

Listen guys, I love you, I really do.
But this feels like a cop-out.
Can we have a same-sex routine where two men or two women are in hold with pelvises close together symbolising love, sex and sensuality? You know, like the opposite sex dances…#Strictly https://t.co/TkmXObf8Oz— Alan Palmer ?️‍? (@PalmerAlan) November 4, 2019