Stop picking on my AJ, Shane
Strictly star’s model girlfriend is stunned actor’s being so unkind
SHANE Richie has been warned to leave AJ Pritchard alone by the Strictly star’s model girlfriend.
Fans have accused Shane of bullying AJ after Thursday’s night show in which he threw his plate at AJ in a longrunning feud over cleaning the dishes.
Abbie Quinnen said Shane is not “as kind to AJ as he is to the other campmates”, and added: “AJ is a gentleman, he literally doesn’t dislike anyone.”
Abbie, 23, said she was particularly upset by Shane’s son Shane Jr, who cruelly berated AJ on social media after the dancer questioned his dad’s washing-up skills.
Shane Jr, whose mum is Coleen Nolan, branded AJ “a little b****”.
Abbie said: “I appreciate he is sticking up for his dad, but I don’t think it’s nice he called AJ a little b****. He overstepped the line.” She added: “What we all need to remember is that this is a TV show and it’s for entertainment. I am sure
AJ and Shane will be getting along just fine a lot of the time.”
Shane Jr yesterday slammed some fans for claiming his dad was a bully – and appeared to hit out at TV bosses.
He said: “I know it’s a TV show but you’re playing with people’s lives, man. If there really is tension, I’m all for it.
“Or are you editing to cause tension? That’s what I can’t agree with.
I know it’s telly but there are vile comments being thrown around and it’s not fair.” He added: “Nothing gets to me until the word ‘ bully’ gets branded about. We throw that out so easily nowadays, it’s everything that’s wrong with society at the min.”
Abbie said she did not feel Shane was bullying AJ but the scenes between
them had left her perplexed. “Hopefully these were just a couple of one-offs,” she said. “AJ is really lovely and gets on with everyone. He is very levelheaded. People always say he’s nice and friendly to anyone he meets.”
She said of AJ’s high standards when it comes to cleaning: “He is just very OCD and likes everything in perfect condition, just like at home, where him and his brother Curtis are total opposites. Curtis is really relaxed and carefree with cleaning, but AJ likes things done a certain way.”
Abbie revealed she has been trolled more than ever since AJ went on the ITV show. She said: “AJ has been very supportive and tells me not to read it. I try to keep really positive as I know how much happiness he brings to people”.
She has even had death threats from obsessed fans. She said: “It’s crazy that some people have this streak in them and they want to ruin people’s lives.” Abbie said Covid-19 nearly scuppered AJ’s I’m a Celebrity dream when he tested positive.
The model, who also had the virus despite having no symptoms, said: “AJ was getting really stressed about it.
“The thought of him not being able to do it was breaking his heart.
“But when the negative tests came through, we were over the moon and cracked open a bottle of champagne.”