ANTON CALLS MIXED-RACE LEILA 'TERRORIST'

Dance pro upsets his Strictly Come Dancing partner with poor-taste joke over her Moroccan heritage

FROSTY - Anton and Leila

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20/09/2009

INSENSITIVE Anton Du Beke has upset celeb partner Laila Rouass by joking that she could be a TERRORIST - because of her Moroccan heritage.

The shocked actress tried to laugh it off but insiders say her relationship with the dance pro is growing frostier by the day. Laila, 35 - who was in telly's Footballers' Wives - was born in London and has an Indian mum and Moroccan dad.

At the first meeting of dancers and celebs Du Beke said about the Morocco link: "Oh no! You're not a terrorist are you?" An insider told us: "Laila tried to laugh it off and told him he couldn't say things like that. But afterwards she was very upset. If it was meant to be a joke, it was in very poor taste."

The pair's relationship has been peppered with bust- ups ever since. In some publicity shots taken before the series, Laila is stony-faced while Du Beke, 43, looks away from her. Our insider told us: "They had a huge bust-up again on Monday when he declared all actresses just sit around, drink and smoke fags. The cameras were rolling and Laila bit her lip and waited till she could give him a piece of her mind.

"She has a great sense of humour - but she and Anton do not gel at all."

Du Beke said: "Laila and I have strong personalities. There's a lot of banter. She gives as good as she gets."

Your comments

This article has 8 comments

Oh my, poor Anton, I think anyone who critisises either Anton for a genuine bit of banter are totally and utterly upo their own backsides, most people if you are totally honest with yourself, say something racist unknowingly, and, I feel people are just jumping on the bandwagon to have a go...just enjoy the show guys!!!

By Khotana. Posted October 10 2009 at 12:19 PM.

the loonies have taken over the asylum.

By mary. Posted October 7 2009 at 4:06 PM.

Well dorothy davenport if Anton is your idea of a true gent and minimising his behaviour as "PC making us mad", I feel sorry for you.

By Laura. Posted October 6 2009 at 11:13 PM.

so sorry to hear that about anton he has been a great dancer and teacher always good to watch him with the celebs and his dance partner but hope he can rise above this look what happend to jade goody good luck anton

By ann glasgow. Posted October 6 2009 at 7:46 PM.

i totally agree with you dorothy

By glynis. Posted September 27 2009 at 5:08 PM.

Anton ruined the latin dance for Lailla on Saturday for me!! He was overacting and Lailla looked embarassed!! Its not the Anton Du Beke Show-he even over spoke Tess back stage!! And check him getting all excited when Brucie mentioned about his new show Hole in the Wall!! Well I wont be watching it!!

By sarah. Posted September 27 2009 at 12:05 PM.

Anton is just an ignorant old git who likes to think of himself as the next Bruce. It was rude and ignorant of him. He's not even funny.

By malina. Posted September 27 2009 at 10:09 AM.

anton is still my favourite.A true gent.This just shows how P C is making us mad!! no-one could be offended by Anton

By dorothy davenport. Posted September 24 2009 at 1:03 AM.

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