Viewers have slammed Dancing with the Stars after the popular Channel 10 show flouted social distancing restrictions on Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Is Dancing with the Stars an essential service? Nobody on that show is practising social distancing,’ one viewer commented on Twitter.
Another added: ‘Guess we’ll find out soon if #DWTSau is an essential service.’
Careless: Viewers have slammed Dancing with the Stars after the popular Channel 10 show flouted social distancing restrictions on Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic
Several Twitter users accused the contestants of having a self-important attitude in the face of a global health crisis.
‘@DancingOn10 #DWTSau – I didn’t realise that being a celebrity was an antidote for the coronavirus,’ on person tweeted.
‘Where is all the social distancing between the judges, the non-dancing contestants and hosts? You should be leading by example, if we are going to reduce the workload of our ICUs.’
Disbelief: ‘Is Dancing with the Stars an essential service? Nobody on that show is practising social distancing,’ one viewer commented on Twitter
‘Guess we’ll find out soon if DWTS is an essential service’: Fans expressed outrage on Twitter, with several claiming that the show was setting a bad example
While DWTS is no longer being filmed in front of a live audience, the show’s format forces its celebrity competitors to physically interact with their dance partners.
Meanwhile, viewers also noticed the show’s judges were seated closer together than the recommended six-foot distance.
At one stage, hosts Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer joked about social distancing by pulling out a tape measure to inspect the distance between them.
Too close for comfort: Ironically, Sunday night’s episode was interrupted by an emergency press conference from Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Ironically, Sunday night’s episode was interrupted by an emergency press conference from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
‘On the weekend, what we saw was a disregard of those social distancing practices’ Mr Morrison said, referring to the hordes of people seen at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
‘This sent a very clear message to premiers, chief ministers and myself that the social distancing practices are not being observed as well as they should be.’
However, other fans thought Dancing with the Stars was exactly what people needed in a time of fear and uncertainty.
‘Please let us have our sanity back; we would like to not think about coronavirus for TWO SECONDS. Just two seconds,’ tweeted one viewer.
Another added: ‘They better not DARE take #DWTSau from me next week. It’s slim pickins’ for joy round these parts.’
‘Don’t take it away from me’: However, other fans thought Dancing with the Stars was exactly what people needed in a time of fear and uncertainty
The show’s producers made several important changes after contestant Christian Wilkins’ coronavirus scare last week.
The 24-year-old fashion stylist was tested for COVID-19 after his father, entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins tested positive on March 15.
Christian’s test later proved to be negative, but he was forced to self-isolate in a hotel with dance partner Lily Cornish for several days.
Making light of a bad situation: The show’s hosts, Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer, appeared to make a joke about the social distancing requirements, pulling out a tape measure to inspect the distance between them
‘A number of precautions had already been put in place to minimise any potential exposure or spread of the virus, including promoting good hygiene practices backstage and in-studio, and filming without a studio audience,’ a Channel 10 spokesperson told TV Tonight last week.
‘All Dancing with the Stars cast and crew have been asked to self-monitor for symptoms relating to COVID-19 while we await the results of Christian’s test. Warner Bros. and Network 10 will provide all cast and crew the appropriate accommodation and support during this time.’
As of Monday, there are 1,610 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, resulting in seven deaths.
Health scare: Contestant Christian Wilkins was tested for the virus after his dad, veteran entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins tested positive earlier this month