Brendan Cole hits back at critics after lockdown rant during bar visit in Mallorca   

Brendan Cole has hit back at critics after he was branded ‘selfish’ for ranting about the coronavirus lockdown and Covid vaccines in a new Instagram post.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 44, posted a picture of himself at a bar in Mallorca, Spain, where he has a holiday home, as he labelled the closure of venues ‘ridiculous’ and ‘unfair’. 

Bars and restaurants in Mallorca have been allowed to serve customers outdoors since March 15.   

It comes after Brendan was slammed in December for suggesting that wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of Covid has no effect. 

The dancer ranted in his caption: ‘Beautiful day in #Mallorca. Lovely to finally be able to support bars and restaurants devastated by ridiculous and unfair closers.’

He added the following hashtags: ‘#sosturismo #sosrestaurante #travel #notovaccinepassport #nuremburgcode #noinforcedvaccine #yourbodyyourchoice.’ 

The Nuremberg Code is a set of research ethics principles for human experimentation created as a result of the Nuremberg trials at the end of the Second World War.  

Brendan was quick to hit back at critics over his choice of caption and hashtags as he insisted that he wasn’t being ‘insensitive’.

One angry follower commented under the photo: ‘This post is someone insensitive. What’s not fair and ridiculous is the suffering due to covid for the families who have lost loved ones, the hospital staff and the sacrifices they have made. 

‘Only for people to ignore the warnings and then expect them to fix everything. Please be careful with your choice of words . You can see by the comments , it has not gone down well. Loss of respect from many. 

‘As someone the public know and many adore , please stop and think before you brush off a serious pandemic in this way . I wish you and your family well. 

‘Not everyone is as fortunate to be doing what you are and the cuts deep through these toughest of times.’

To which Brendan hit back with: ‘I’m sorry that you are now a disappointed fan. I fail to see how I have been insensitive or used the wrong choice of words. 

‘Perhaps I should have said as a caveat that it is heartbreaking all of the loss because of this and that I thank all of the NHS and people working hard under extreme conditions etc but my message was about saving industry and people’s livelihoods. 

‘People have lost and are losing everything and I don’t see it as insensitive to support them. I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s right to make people have the vaccine if they don’t want to or can’t. 

‘I don’t think it’s right to lock people down for this long as they have and I don’t think it’s right to have hundreds of thousands of people thrown into poverty. There is a bigger picture here in my opinion and I’m not sure you should be disappointed. 

‘Perhaps we can have a conversation about it and try to enlighten each other or understand where the other is coming from. With regard to your second message. 

‘Just so you know, I have worked extremely hard for my entire life to get where I am today. I have sacrificed a lot and risked more than you could know. 

‘I am and will be forever grateful for the fans that have as you put ‘lined my pockets’ but I don’t think it’s necessary to make comments like this. It’s simply not very nice and belittles the career I’ve spent a lifetime building. Best wishes to you.’ 

A different angry follower put: ‘Why do we want to see you gloating with a beer in your hand. We are playing by the rules, you however are a selfish t*t.’ 

To which Brendan replied with: ‘A selfish t*t for wanting people’s business’ back up and running and for freedom of choice? For the record I have played by the rules even though I did not necessarily agree with them! 

‘I live on an island with very little COVID which has been under severe lockdowns where my children couldn’t even leave the house for several months. We’re made to wear masks everywhere. My daughter who is 8 has to wear one all day at school. 

‘If you want to call me names… do it from an educated position and not hiding behind your phone. I wish you happiness and good mental and physical health. ‘Cheers’. 

To which Brendan replied with: ‘A selfish t*t for wanting people’s business’ back up and running and for freedom of choice? For the record I have played by the rules even though I did not necessarily agree with them! 

‘I live on an island with very little COVID which has been under severe lockdowns where my children couldn’t even leave the house for several months. We’re made to wear masks everywhere. My daughter who is 8 has to wear one all day at school. 

‘If you want to call me names… do it from an educated position and not hiding behind your phone. I wish you happiness and good mental and physical health. ‘Cheers’. 

While a different angry fan commented under the photo: ‘You know they were closed for a reason, yeh???’

To which Brendan fired back with: ‘You’ll have to tell that to the millions of people who have lost their businesses, gone bankrupt, or can’t feed their children because of the measures put in place. 

‘Those people who will be set back years after risking all and building their business over many years all for it to be taken away with no thought to the consequences. 

‘I’m not saying that the people affected by this virus don’t count but there is a bigger picture that has not been taken into account and I’m afraid that I don’t agree with these measures.

‘I take it that financially you haven’t been too affected, or lost your business? We all have different opinions on this subject. It’s important to listen to every voice as everyone has a story to tell.’

The follower replied: ‘It up to govt, local authorities to fully support these industries, no one is questioning the devastating impact of covid but safety of life must come first, it is responsibility of govt to ensure that people are safe and secure.

‘I fully understand the impact, I work with people affected by this, we have witnessed millions more enter poverty including children and families.

‘But opening these industries when it still isn’t safe and not everyone has had a vaccine means one must ere on the side of caution,’ they added: ‘Also how dare you assume I’ve not been affected, everyone has!’

Brendan hit back again as he responded: ‘The government is not supporting all industries. If one has been furloughed that’s good for them but there are millions who have not been and millions who have been left to fend for themselves.

‘I didn’t say you hadn’t been affected. I presumed you didn’t have a business that had been devastated. All business owners that I know feel the same way as I do. 

‘It’s an opinion based on the safety measures most have put in place vs the complete closure of businesses for moths on end.

‘Best wishes to you. I’m afraid I don’t share your fear for the risk (I’m not denying it’s there) and would rather that the millions you talk of had not been thrown into poverty and instead we shield and pay for the old and vulnerable. 

‘Every single death is a tragedy and I don’t underestimate that, I’m simply saying that business and life closures for this amount of time will ruin and cost many lives for years to come as well. Thanks for the conversation. Respect.’

On Thursday, Matt Hancock claimed new government-backed research had found vaccination spared more than 6,000 lives by the end of February. He said the rollout’s success meant he could ‘see an end’ to the crisis.  

More than 450,000 Brits are being jabbed every day, government data up to March 23 shows 28,653,523 people have received a first vaccine dose, a rise of 325,650 on the previous day.  

It comes after Brendan was slammed in December for suggesting that wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of Covid has no effect.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professional took to Instagram to insist that he is entitled to ‘my opinion’ in a lengthy statement.

Brendan said that he had deleted his original post and apologised for causing ‘any offence after followers branded him ‘totally irresponsible’. 

Although the dancer added that he has a ‘right to protest’ and claimed that critics will ‘simply abuse’ anyone who dares to ‘think differently’. 

Brendan was supported by his former Strictly co-star, James Jordan, and former celebrity dance partner Jo Wood who stuck up for him in the comments section.  

The dancer penned in a lengthy message shared to his grid and story: ‘I have deleted the post that I reposted earlier as I am not in the business of causing offence to people and clearly it has p****d many of you off.

‘I am entitled to my opinion on the subject but if I have offended you, for this I am sorry.

‘If you are indeed upset by it, I do understand. I will point out that there is plenty of evidence on the contrary and it is up to each of us to believe what we believe.

‘I am doing as I am told and wearing but have the right to protest… or at least I used to!’

He added: ‘We now seem to be living in a world where we are not allowed different views and will simply abuse anyone who thinks differently.

‘I will continue to believe in the information from many medical practitioners and professionals in the know and continue to believe that this has been the wrong way to handle things, not only regarding the info in the post but with the various measures put in place.

‘If you disagree with me, I will listen and debate but I will not abuse you for thinking differently. My intention was not to offend, simply to have a voice.’

Signing off his statement, he put: ‘I wish you all well and hope that the many people whose lives are in ruins because of the various measures put in place will stay strong and somehow recover.’

Jo Wood, 65, who was previously married to Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood, supported Brendan in the comments.

The former model was paired with the dancer on the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing, she wrote: ‘I love you Brendan ❤️and I believe in freedom of speech we should all be free to have our own opinions and free to debate all issues .. 

‘I think you should of left your post up .. as I’m with your way of thinking 100%.’ 

While fellow former Strictly dancer James, 42, who is known for his outspoken remarks, sarcastically commented: ‘You’re such a trouble maker!!! You should try and be more like me mate and not be so opinionated.

‘It’s really not a good look I’m really not one that likes to get involved but felt I needed to say something. 

‘Some people even enjoy being s#@t stirrers. I think you need to just calm down Luv ya ❤️.’

Brendan came under fire for suggesting that wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of Covid has no effect. 

The dancer was slammed for being ‘totally irresponsible’ after he shared an Instagram post doubting the efficacy of wearing a mask.

He wrote: ‘The first randomised trial of more than 6000 individuals to assess the effectiveness of surgical face masks against SARS-CoV-2 infection did not statistically significantly reduce the incident of infection.’  

To further emphasise his point, he penned below: ‘#Repost @drmercola with @get_repost.

‘The so-called ‘Danmask-19 Trial,’ published November 18, 2020, in the Annals of Internal Medicine, included 3,030 individuals assigned to wear a surgical face mask and 2,994 unmasked controls.’ 

Brendan’s fans, including medical professionals, were left fuming by his ‘c**p’ post and were quick to tell him they had unfollowed him.

Others urged the New Zealand-born ballroom dancer to delete his controversial message, claiming it was full of ‘misinformation’ and would ‘put others at risk’.  

It is not the first time Brendan has voiced his controversial views on social media, as he previously took to Facebook to slam Covid-19 safety measures as ‘outrageous’.