Rugby player Gavin Henson caused a stir in Britain when he kissed judge Bruno Tonioli during this week’s “Strictly Come Dancing.” Tonioli, an Italian dancer turned choreographer, is openly gay. Wrote the Daily Telegraph:
The hitherto personality-free rugby player-cum-terracotta pot raced over to the judges’ table during his quickstep to kiss judge Bruno Tonioli, who was already a slavering admirer. Drooling like a lovestruck puppy, Tonioli promptly marked Henson a nine. Heaven knows what he’d need to do to get a ten. The studio audience whooped with delight.
The hitherto personality-free rugby player-cum-terracotta pot raced over to the judges’ table during his quickstep to kiss judge Bruno Tonioli, who was already a slavering admirer. Drooling like a lovestruck puppy, Tonioli promptly marked Henson a nine. Heaven knows what he’d need to do to get a ten. The studio audience whooped with delight.
Tonioli said after, “Am I dreaming? Can we do it all over again so I know it’s real?”
Some viewers were upset with the kiss:
“My 76 year old mum loves this show but she was really upset with ‘the kiss’. She’s a live and let live sort of person but she does not want to watch men kissing men. Let’s not forget it’s supposed to be a family show.”
But others took it in the spirit of fun and entertainment, as it was meant. It was also effective — the judges said it was Henson’s best performance and moved him on.
The kiss occurs at the 1:45 mark. Prior to that there is some shirtless action with Henson and his rugby mates in the locker room:
Hat tip to reader Big Blue Cowboy.
