Strictly pro reveals he sank into ‘deep depression’ after being axed from line-up

A erstwhile Strictly Come Dancing pro has revealed however his mental health suffered after helium was unexpectedly axed from the show.

Cameron Lombard joined the BBC creation competition successful 2021 on with Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, and Kai Widdrington.

While Cameron was not fixed a personage spouse successful his archetypal series, helium often featured successful radical numbers and arsenic a dancer for impermanent performances.

However, fans were fixed a astonishment successful 2023 erstwhile the nonrecreational line-up for the forthcoming bid was confirmed, and Cameron’s sanction was not featured.

Reflecting connected his exit, the 23-year-old South African Latin champion has present shared that helium sank into a ‘deep depression’ aft his Strictly travel came to a premature end.

Taking to Instagram tonight, the prima shared a smiley photograph of himself astatine an airport, carrying a suitcase.

His caption began: ‘A twelvemonth ago, my satellite shifted erstwhile I didn’t marque the Strictly Come Dancing lineup. What followed was a conflict with heavy depression, trying to capable the emptiness that occurrence erstwhile occupied.

‘But successful that darkness, I recovered my existent strength. Setbacks don’t interruption us—they signifier us. With the unwavering emotion and enactment from my wife, my unthinkable household and a occurrence wrong maine that volition ne'er die, I’m entering a caller chapter.’

Cameron went connected to denote that helium is moving to Miami, an accidental helium describes arsenic a ‘rebirth’.

‘Here, I volition not conscionable dance; I volition create, inspire, and permission a people that can’t beryllium erased,’ helium declared.

‘To those who believed successful me, you were my anchor. To the doubters, you marque maine laughter connected the toughest of nights,’ Cameron continued successful a motivational speech.

‘This travel has tested me, but each autumn has lone made maine emergence higher. This is much than a idiosyncratic triumph; it is simply a solemnisation of resilience, of the quality spirit’s capableness to overcome. It is impervious that erstwhile we fall, we tin emergence again, stronger and much determined.

‘My travel has been 1 of highs and lows, but each measurement has led maine to this moment. A infinitesimal filled with possibility, with life, with passion.’

He concluded by vowing that ‘the champion is yet to come’, not solely for him but ‘for anyone who’s ever been knocked down’.

‘We rise, we conquer, and we thrive,’ helium stated. ‘Together, let’s creation done beingness with passion, resilience, and an unyielding content successful our dreams.’

The likes soon flooded in, including from erstwhile Strictly prima Clara Amfo and existent justice Motsi Mabuse.

Offering words of encouragement successful the comments, Motsi wrote: ‘❤️❤️ support going’.

Katya Jones, who has been a Strictly pro since 2016, besides commented: ‘🙌 bully luck Cameron’.

In 2023, erstwhile Cameron’s Strictly departure was confirmed, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘Cameron is simply a fantastic performer and we person loved moving with him for the past 2 years connected Strictly.

‘He is presently pursuing different opportunities but volition ever beryllium portion of the household and our doorway volition ever beryllium unfastened to him successful the future.’

In his ain societal media post, Cameron expressed his gratitude, describing his 2 years connected Strictly arsenic ‘a blast’ and thanking the programme for a ‘life-changing opportunity’.

‘I volition everlastingly beryllium grateful and I’ve loved each minute, danced connected the world’s biggest stages, met the world’s champion fans, performed for thousands of radical arsenic good arsenic millions watching astir the satellite and person made friends for beingness that I’ll cherish forever,’ helium wrote.

Strictly past returned to screens this play with a caller line-up of celebs, including Nick Knowles, Chris McCausland, Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland, Pete Wicks, Wynne Evans, and Jamie Borthwick.

All pros returned, barroom Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who are presently astatine the centre of misconduct allegations which, aft their denials, are being investigated by the BBC.

Amy Dowden was besides backmost aft a twelvemonth of bosom crab attraction and, successful a Strictly first, Aljaž Škorjanec made a comeback aft quitting his relation successful 2021.

The BBC has been contacted for comment.

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday and Sunday connected BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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