AJ Pritchard hits out at backlash over new GB News presenter role

Having sparked backlash with his latest gig, AJ Pritchard said he’s had ‘quite the week’.

The former Strictly Come Dancing pro caused absolute confusion when he popped up as a presenter on GB News earlier this month.

Pritchard presented a segment on shoplifting but a lot of the talk on social media was less about the statistics and more about his presence.

And during yesterday’s (10 October) The Saturday Five show, the 31-year-old said the response had been crazy: “Apparently some people are surprised that I’ve gone from Drag Race to GB News.”

Some users said it’s ‘hilarious’ to see him taking on such a role as others criticised his supposed pivot to the ‘far right’ and aren’t so sure he has the skills for presenting the news.

Pritchard’s response

After clips played of podcasters and social media users expressing confusion over his career move, the star said: “Well, I do still love an absolutely fabulous outfit and a strong opinion and a dramatic entrance.”

He then shared a bit of back-and-forth ‘small talk’ with his co-presenters about Strictly before continuing and seemingly reading from the teleprompter: “Last Saturday I started my new job here, presenting, talking, smiling and waving on GB News - I did absolutely love it.

“But apparently, by Monday I caused a backlash and I was trending on social media. As they say, ‘all press is good press’.”

He referenced reports that criticised his performance on the show as he added: “They did seem to suggest that my entire career was completely over – yeah that was a bit painful to see.

“I mean, I’ve only hosted one show, it can’t get any worse.”

The infamous Hollyoaks scene with his brother Curtis played as the presenters had a laugh about his drama performance.

And he then moved on to why he is ‘suddenly presenting on GB News’.

“Well, I got the opportunity to host and I said yes,” Pritchard explained. “And apparently that is breaking news these days. So thank you to everybody who watched, commented and criticised. I feel like the criticism was with love, hopefully.”

He said to those watching: “Please do be kind.”

So, his only explanation for taking on the gig seems to that he ‘got the opportunity’ as he addressed those who called his presenting ‘robotic’,

Backlash for Pritchard’s new gig

“How’s Trish?” Well, she might be better than how this role seems to be going for the former Strictly pro.

Pritchard recently competed in Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro but missed out on landing a role as a professional on the US show.

And one social media user wrote: “That DWTS rejection hit so hard his career exited stage left and he entered far right.”

Others asked if it was ‘a joke’ as they said his allyship is ‘performative’.

One claimed: “The right wing grift is disgusting, to think someone who was actively supporting the lgbtq+ community a few years ago would platform themselves on one of the largest hate-fuelled ‘news’ programmes is just f***ed up to me.”

Another slammed : “AJ Pritchard having no choice to commit to the right wing but to get a check because the British dance scene don’t want to touch him with a barge pole.”

Reputation management and personal branding consultant, Paul MacKenzie-Cummins told The Independent that his gig is ‘extremely puzzling’.

“He has built a personal brand rooted in positivity and LGBTQ+ allyship, yet he’s now fronting a channel repeatedly criticised for its treatment of underrepresented groups,” he explained.

“That contradiction alone justifiably invites scrutiny. It is clearly a misjudged attempt to fast‑track a presenting career without understanding the reputational cost of the platform he’s chosen.”

And it seems the criticism for his actual presenting is continuing this week as one fan put: “Look , AJ is very personable & I loved him on Strictly but he simply isn’t ready to present a 3 hour programme on your news channel.”

“He was a bit better this week but his level is clearly more panellist than presenter,” another added, with a bit of praise.

And some say that he ‘will be OK after some time’, once he has got ‘used to reading off the teleprompter’.

The LADbible Group has contacted representatives for Pritchard for comment