DOIs Ekin-Su Culculoglu promises to be herself after Ofcom complaints

Ekin-Su Culculoglu has sent out a defiant message to her Dancing On Ice critics after viewers complained to Ofcom about her recent performance on the show.

The reality star, 28, and her professional skating partner Brendyn Hatfield, 36, gave a nod to the moment she crawled across the floor in the Love Island villa last summer to steal a kiss with Jay Younger behind her now-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti‘s back.

Actress Ekin-Su was seen wearing a sequinned catsuit while performing a steamy jive on the ITV figure skating last month as she performed to Britney Spears‘ song Toxic but the display was too much for some viewers, prompting 112 complaints to TV regulator Ofom.

The television personality said the kick-back from show fans knocked her confidence but, after a prim and proper performance last week as The Sound of Music’s Maria von Trapp, Ekin-Su is determined not to let any negative feedback get her down, insisting she is simply going to be herself.

She told the Sunday People: ‘I’m not going to just back off anymore, I’m going to be confident again.

Staying strong: Ekin-Su Culculoglu, 28, has sent out a defiant message to her Dancing On Ice critics after viewers complained to Ofcom about her recent performance on the show

‘I’m going to fight. I’m here, I’m ready. I’m going to shine and I’m ­going to be me again.’  

Ekin-Su’s raunchy routine last month left some viewers hot under the collar as she made her Dancing On Ice her debut.

Host Holly Willoughby dubbing the routine the show’s ‘sexiest dance ever’ but the Turkish beauty found herself with the lowest number of public votes.

Ekin-Su told the Sunday People of her mood after the complaints: ‘I was very upset. Instead of people backing me up and saying, ‘Look, she’s doing her best. Look at her, look at her confidence’, I had negative feedback. I was crying a lot. 

‘I went home, I cried in Davide’s arms. I looked in the mirror and I went, ‘What is wrong with me? What have I done wrong? Why are people being like this?”

The star added that the experience is different from her time in Love Island as Islanders have no communication with the outside world as their phones are taken away, so they don’t see any criticism until they leave the show.

But while appearing on Dancing On Ice, Ekin-Su can see what people are saying about her in real-time, with many people sending her messages on social media to dish out their opinion. 

During her debut performance last month she brought some fire to the rink, stepping out in a nude mesh jumpsuit with a dramatically embellished detail.

Born to perform: The star and her skating partner Brendyn Hatfield, 36, gave a nod to the moment she crawled on the floor in the Love Island villa last year to kiss Jay Younger

The ensemble was a recreation of the one Britney Spears wore in her Toxic music video – which the Ekin-Su was dancing to.

She crawled across the ice during the performance, an ode to the famous Love Island scene in which she made her way around the villa’s terrace on her hands and knees to kiss fellow islander Jay behind partner Davide’s back.

The sultry routine also saw her lie on her back and be swept up into partner Brendyn’s arms, with a slew of animated facial expressions. 

Making moves: Actress Ekin-Su was seen wearing a sequinned catsuit while performing a steamy jive on the ITV figure skating last month as she performed to Britney Spears’ song Toxic

Unimpressed: The display was too much for some viewers, prompting 112 complaints to TV regulator Ofom

Angelic: Ekin-Su put on a prim and proper performance as The Sound of Music’s Maria von Trapp last week, having said the complaints knocked her confidence

Iconic scnes: Ekin-Su was seen crawling across the terrace for a sneaky kiss with Jay in the Love Island villa last summer, a moment she gave a nod to on Dancing On Ice

Sneaky kisses: Ekin-Su and Jay were seen heading to the terrace on two separate occasions to enjoy a covert snog-filled meet-up and confess their feelings for each other

While she may have received criticism from some viewers, Ekin-Su’s boyfriend Davide appeared on Good Morning Britain after her first performance, saying how proud of her he was.  

He said: ‘I was there watching her live from the audience, I think she’s doing well, obviously not just because she is my girlfriend.

‘She’s a strong woman, she knows what she wants, I think this will push her to try harder and get what she wants.’

A fan: Ekin-Su’s boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti looked proud as he sat in the audience and watched his girlfriend perform on Dancing On Ice

He continued: ‘It is good for her because she will push herself even though she was sad for a few hours at first. 

‘The end of the day, this is the show it’s how things go.’

Dancing On Ice continues on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday at 6.25pm.

DANCING ON ICE 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

PATSY PALMER 

AGE: 50

PROFESSION: Actress and DJ

WHAT DID THEY SAY?:  ‘I’ve turned it down before because I was terrified, but when I turned 50 I made a pact to get out of my confront zone. ‘

EKIN-SU CULCULOGLU

AGE: 28

PROFESSION: Love Island star 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?:  ‘I’ve got some amazing news to tell you. I’m so excited, I can’t wait to get myself on the ice and skate. Stay tuned and see you on the ice.’

 MOLLIE GALLAGHER 

AGE: 24

PROFESSION: Actress

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve not got the best coordination so when people find out they will laugh, but I don’t want to spend my life saying “I can’t do this, I can’t do that.”

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JOEY ESSEX

AGE: 32 

PROFESSION: Ex TOWIE star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited. I wanted something in my life with structure and it’s more serious than what I usually do.’

 CARLEY STENSON

AGE: 36

PROFESSION: Actress and West End star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited that I get to learn how to dance…on ice! I’m terrified but can’t wait – I just want to make the most of this whole experience.’

SIVA KANESWARAN

AGE: 33

PROFESSION: Singer

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I want to learn how to skate and make my family proud of me and put on a show for everyone to see.’

 JOHN FASHANU 

AGE: 60

PROFESSION: Former footballer and pundit 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?:  ‘I am definitely in it to win it.And this may be one of the scariest things I’ve ever signed up for but I couldn’t be more ready for the challenge!’

NILE WILSON

AGE: 26

PROFESSION: Olympic gymnast 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve not done much ice-skating but I am so excited for the opportunity. I’m so excited to get into that routine and to feel like an athlete again.’

 JAMES LEE WILLIAM AKA THE VIVIENNE 

AGE: 29

PROFESSION: Drag queen

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘To be the first drag artist to take part in one of the big UK reality competition shows is an honour and a big step forward for queer representation on TV.’

  DARREN HARRIOT 

PROFESSION: Comedian 

AGE: 34 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve got giant feet, I don’t skate and I can’t dance. My family has already made bets – they’re making bets that I’ll fall on the first episode!’ 

 MICHELLE HEATON

AGE: 43

PROFESSION: Singer

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve always wanted to do it but I know I would never have been able to complete anything because of the way I was 18 months ago, so I’m really truly grateful that I’ve got it this year when I’m a lot stronger.’