Tom Skinner releases statement revealing reason he stormed out of Strictly press event

Tom Skinner, the controversial star of The Apprentice who has recently become known for his political opinions on X, was already an eyebrow raising booking for BBC to have on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The show hasn’t began and yet the drama has – with the Mail Online yesterday reporting that Tom Skinner allegedly walked out of a Strictly press event after a confrontation with a journalist. Now the audio of the altercation that resulted in Tom Skinner walking out of the Strictly event has apparently surfaced, and it all aligns with the story in the Mail yesterday – and Skinner has released a statement regarding what happened.

Tom Skinner has now revealed why he stormed out of the press event for Strictly

Writing in a post on X, the first statement since the story erupted yesterday, Tom Skinner explains why he walked out of the Strictly event.

“To set the record straight off the back of yesterday. During one of the interviews, a journalist placed their phone on the table to record the conversation. I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen and saw numerous messages – not about Strictly, but about a personal story from my past. I’ve been through some difficult times in my life, which I’ve worked hard to move on from. In that moment, seeing it there caught me off guard.

To set the record straight off the back of yesterday.

During one of the interviews, a journalist placed their phone on the table to record the conversation. I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen and saw numerous messages – not about Strictly, but about a personal story…

— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) September 10, 2025

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“I felt it was best to step away and gather myself. This had nothing to do with the interviews or Strictly itself. I’m sorry I picked up someone else’s phone and I don’t even know if the journalist realised their messages were visible, and I don’t want to suggest any bad intentions on their part.

“What I do want to say is how excited I am to be part of Strictly this year. I’m so grateful for all the love, kindness and support I’ve been shown so far. It means the world to me, and I can’t wait to give it my all on that dancefloor.”

The original story said Tom Skinner left and ‘grabbed a journalist’s phone’

During a press event with his Strictly co-star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the Mail reported that Tom Skinner argued with a journalist at the press junket after accusing her of recording him on her phone. It must be noted that at these kind of events, everyone records on phones in order to then report on what was said when writing up stories after.

Via BBC

A source told Mail Online yesterday: “This is exactly what Strictly did not need. With all the recent controversy, bosses wanted this series to be smooth sailing but Thomas is already causing havoc. It’s unprecedented for a celebrity to walk out of the show’s media launch day and bosses think it’s really bad form.

“If this is a sign of things to come, Strictly have a big problem.”

Tom Skinner is yet to post on X – unusual for him, he’s a daily poster – since it all erupted.

The audio from the event has also apparently surfaced

In a clip posted by BPI News on its X and TikTok, audio from the Strictly event where Tom Skinner is said to have walked out has surfaced. This audio plays a female journalist asking “What made you say yes to this amazing opportunity”. Skinner then says “What’s that” and another voice says “They’re taping it.”

The first voice then says “What are you doing? Just answer the question we’ve got three minutes?” as well as saying “I’m just recording it”. People can then be heard asking Skinner to not walk out before someone says “He’s gone.”

The Tab has reached out to representatives for Strictly Come Dancing and Tom Skinner for comments.

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