Hughie Maughan has admitted that he’s “seriously shook” after receiving death threats online.
The Dancing with the Stars contestant has been subject to vicious trolls and accused of racism, after sporting an extremely dark fake tan on Sunday night.
Speaking about the abuse he’s getting online, Hughie said, “It’s not just one, there’s loads of them, from a group of people Tweeting things, death threats and how I should be attacked with a machete.”
“Of course I’m shook. I take full responsibility for my tan and anyone who’s saying that I’m being racist is wrong. I’m a member of the travelling community, I’ve had racism all my life and I would never be racist,” he told the Herald.
For a man that’s only back from a sun holiday I felt rather pale ?@hughie_maughan #DancingWiththeStars #tango @RTEOne @DWTSIRL pic.twitter.com/R8jvxhFgpl
— Aidan O Mahony (@GmailMahony) January 15, 2017
“I can’t believe the reaction that I’m getting. This is a tan that has turned into an international press storm.”
Earlier this week, the reality star explained that the RTÉ make-up artists were forced to use an extremely dark foundation on Hughie after he overdid it on the fake tan, after he was accused of “doing black face”.
However, Hughie has since silenced his critics by saying, “Get a grip. The tan turned out darker than planned but at least it’s funny.”
“I don’t take notice of opinions. I wouldn’t come on this type of show if I were. People are entitled to an opinion if you put yourself on a platform like this. You could have one little thing that they pick on. If you speak of it, an insecurity, they’ll attack that.”
Hitting back: Hughie has defended himself after being accused of racism | RTE
Meanwhile, DWTS producers are said to have warned Hughie about his excessive use of fake tan, in order to avoid another disaster.
“He was told the first week to lay off on the tan and he was told again last Sunday to leave it to the professionals and not be doing it himself, but he still went ahead of put on too much,” an insider said.
“There’s 11 celebrities competing on the show and it’s not fair to the rest of them when his tan is all anyone is talking about on social media. He needs to make the headlines for his dancing and not his tanning.”
Dancing With The Stars this Sunday will feature the show’s first live elimination, as 11 celebrities fight for the glitter ball.
