The BBC edited out a transgender rights slogan from actor Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt during Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals. The broadcaster defended the digital alteration as standard adherence to its editorial guidelines regarding overt slogans, sparking strong reactions across social media and public figures.
Bethany Antonia Wears Charity Slogan During Rehearsals
Actor Bethany Antonia, known for her role in House of the Dragon, rehearsed for an American Smooth alongside professional partner Nancy Xu. During training sessions ahead of Saturday night’s broadcast, Antonia wore a white T-shirt bearing the message Protect the Dolls
.
The garment was designed by fashion creator Connor Ives, who debuted the piece at a London Fashion Week show in February 2025. The slogan serves as an expression of support for transgender women, utilizing a positive term originating from the 1980s Ballroom scene. Proceeds from sales of the shirts have raised more than $600,000 for organizations like Trans Lifeline and the UK charity Not A Phase.
Digital Editing Removes Wording From Broadcast and iPlayer
Initial promotional clips shared on social media platforms by the BBC displayed Antonia wearing the distinct T-shirt with the lettering clearly visible. However, those social media posts were later removed and replaced with edited footage, while the version broadcast during the live television show and stored on the BBC iPlayer platform showed Antonia in what appeared to be a plain white garment.
Viewers quickly noted the alteration, leading to criticism online. Prominent figures, including former newsreader India Willoughby, voiced dissatisfaction with the broadcaster’s actions, while other social media users accused the network of censorship regarding trans rights, according to reports from Digital Spy.
The BBC Cites Guidelines on Overt Branding and Slogans
Responding to public backlash, the BBC issued a formal statement defending the editorial decision. The organization maintained that the edit aligned with standard protocols for its entertainment programs.
“As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question.”
BBC Spokesperson, via The Guardian
This is not the first instance of the broadcaster altering clothing items to meet neutrality or formatting rules. In 2017, producers blurred a T-shirt worn by Clean Bandit singer Grace Chatto that featured support for then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a broadcast supporting victims of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, citing pre-election impartiality rules. Similarly, writing on a shirt worn by Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson reading Trans Rights Are Human Rights
appeared blurred out during an episode of Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
