The has responded after viewers noticed that Bethany Antonia’s “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt had been edited out of .
The actress, who plays Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon, was shown rehearsing her American Smooth with professional partner Nancy Xu during Saturday night’s (10 October) show. However, the T-shirt she wore appeared plain white in the broadcast and on BBC iPlayer.
A video reportedly shared on the show’s social media before being taken down appeared to show the T-shirt bearing the words “Protect the Dolls” – a slogan associated with a movement supporting transgender women.
“Appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present” – the BBC in a statement
The BBC has since addressed the footage, writing in a statement: “As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question.”
Fashion designer Conner Ives helped popularise the slogan in 2025 after creating a white T-shirt bearing the words, with proceeds supporting transgender people. The design has since been worn by several high-profile celebrities, including Madonna, Pedro Pascal and Troye Sivan. Sales of the T-shirt have also supported LGBTQ+ charities, including UK-based organisation Not A Phase.
What does “Protect the Dolls” mean?
The phrase “Protect the Dolls” uses “dolls”, a term associated with transgender women and originating in LGBTQ+ ballroom culture. It has become a visible expression of solidarity amid ongoing debates surrounding transgender rights.
Antonia has also spoken about the significance of being paired with a woman on . The actress previously revealed that watching boxer Nicola Adams compete with professional dancer Katya Jones in 2020 helped her feel more comfortable discussing her sexuality with people in her life.
Speaking to , she described the opportunity to dance with Xu as “the biggest privilege in the world”, explaining that she had wanted to take part in the show with a female partner.