BBC responds as Strictly’s Bethany Antonia’s ‘Protect The Dolls’ shirt edited out

Save for later Comment Bethany Antonia’s ‘Protect The Dolls’ shirt was edited (BBC)

The BBC has defended editing out the “Protect the Dolls” slogan on Strictly Come Dancing contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt, after viewers noticed it had been digitally scrubbed from the live broadcast and the BBC iPlayer version.

During Saturday night’s show, House of the Dragon star Antonia and her professional partner, Nancy Xu, were seen in rehearsals for their American Smooth. In some clips, Antonia, 28, appeared to be wearing a plain white top where the slogan would have been.

A video reportedly uploaded and then taken down from the show’s social media was said to show the T-shirt with the “Protect the Dolls” wording intact.

Separately, a 9 October training montage was said to have shown Antonia in the T-shirt before later being edited to omit her in favour of footage showing Xu.

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In a statement, the BBC said: “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.”

“Protect The Dolls” T-shirts have become a staple among trans ally celebs, as well as the wider LGBTQ+ community, to show support to transgender people – or “dolls”, which is a positive slang term for a trans woman which originated in the 1980s Ballroom scene.

Fashion designer Connor Ives created the T-shirt – a plain white tee with the slogan in a black font – and debuted it at his London Fashion Week show in February 2025.

The sales of the shirts raise money for charity, with more than $600,000 being raised for Trans Lifeline.

The likes of Pedro Pascal, Madonna and Troye Sivan have been pictured in the shirts.

In March 2026, Ives collaborated with MAC’s Viva Glam line to release a black version of the shirt, with the campaign saying it would “give back 100% to charities advancing trans equality and health futures for all”.

Bethany Antonia has also spoken about dancing with a woman on the show, telling Radio Times it felt “like the biggest privilege in the world”.

“I have been quite open about this, but watching Nicola [Adams] and Katya [Jones] do this in 2020 was a huge part of my life,” she said. “And so now it just feels like I can’t believe that we’re here and we’re doing it. And it was a thing that I talked into existence, so it feels like a real privilege.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 17 October on BBC One and iPlayer.

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