Strictly: Katya Jones issues statement defending Wynne Evans
The tension between Strictly Come Dancing contestant Wynne Evans and his professional partner Katya Jones has been under the spotlight since their return to the dance floor this week.
The pair came under scrutiny after a clip aired where the opera singer put his hand on Katya's waist, and she quickly batted it away.
Viewers dubbed it a groping incident, but Katya was quick to come to Wynne's defence, explaining that the moment was a private joke between them.
Since their return to the ballroom, celebrity psychic and body language expert Inbaal Honigman has analysed the duo's recent rehearsal footage and post-dance photos.
She identified clear signs of discomfort between the duo, and spotted an effort to maintain their physical distance - which may have been caused by the backlash.
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"Wynne and Katya's awkward embrace during rehearsals looks uneasy," Inbaal noted.
"There's a noticeable gap between their hips, which is unnatural when embracing, so they're making an effort to avoid touching each other more than necessary."
One of the key indicators of this tension was how Wynne positioned his hand during their rehearsals.
Inbaal added: "Wynne's hand on Katya's shoulder is curled up on itself, again in an effort to avoid excessive touch. Wynne appears uncomfortable."
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The expert also commented on their facial expressions, which seemed forced and mismatched.
"Both their facial expressions are unnatural, they're like toddlers who were asked to smile for a photo," she said. "Wynne's faded smile is showing no teeth, and Katya's expression is more a grimace than a smile."
After their performance, body language clues continued to reveal a disconnect between the pair.
According to Inbaal: "Wynne's expression in this photo is not very typical of him at all. The normally jovial and smiley man is looking serious and pensive, wearing a neutral expression and gazing straight ahead.
"Behind him, Katya is wearing a somewhat disgusted expression. The fact that their facial expressions don't match shows that they're not on the same wavelength."
