Dancing on Ice’s Faye Brookes posts tribute to Manchester bombing victims after Rufus Hound posted sickening tweets
DANCING On Ice’s Faye Brookes has shown her support to the Manchester Arena bombing victims after Rufus Hound made outrageous claims about the atrocity.
Faye, 33, shared a picture of the bee tattoo she has on her neck as it emerged her DOI co-star had tweeted a sickening conspiracy theory about the 2017 attack.
Hound, 41, previously posted that then-PM Theresa May orchestrated the bombing to help the Tories win the ongoing General Election.
Former Coronation Street star Faye was herself at the Ariana Grande concert and was just metres away from the bomb when it was detonated.
As calls grow for DOI bosses to axe the leftie star from this year’s series, Faye has paid tribute to the 22 victims who lost their lives, along with the dozens more who were injured.
Taking to Instagram, the proud Mancunian has posted a picture of her bee tattoo, which she had inked onto the back of her neck in 2018.
The image is actually an impressive painting, captured by artist Nick Brown. Since the bombing on May 22, 2017, the bee has come to symbolise the lives lost and unity of Manchester.
Faye has not commented on her posting, which she shared on Instagram Stories, but has spoken about that night and her tattoo previously.
She told Whats On TV: “I was there. I was at the concert myself so yes, it’s had a significant impact on my life. Completely changed my perspective actually. I feel so blessed and so grateful, I’m not wasting any time, I’m just living life.”
Sharing the same image of Nick Brown’s painting several months ago, she also wrote on Instagram: “Take the time to stop, breathe & reflect… Stay true to who you are, be grateful for everything and everyone.”
Earlier today, The Sun on Sunday revealed how conspiracy theorist Hound shared a Twitter user’s comment, which read: “Given the attacker was known to MI5, the timing seems fortunate for May that an attack ‘slips through’ as Labour are making progress”.
In his own comments alongside the message, Hound added: “Apologies for mild tinhattedness, but I’ve been thinking the same. Esp. as she was Home Secretary for so long.”
He even compared the blast to the 1933 Reichstag Fire in Germany, suspected to have been staged by Nazis to increase Hitler’s grip on power.
Hound, who has a million Twitter followers, later deleted the comments. But they were mentioned again on social media last week.
MP Rob Halfon told The Sun On Sunday: “This is horrific. These trivial remarks are deeply offensive to victims of the Manchester attack.”
Fellow Tory Alec Shelbrooke added: “ITV have a moral responsibility and it’s time that they chucked out contestants that spout conspiracy theories and use family shows as political platforms.”
Mum Jade Clough, thrown 10ft into the air and hit by shrapnel from terrorist Salman Abedi’s suicide bomb, urged ITV to axe Hound.
Jade, 33, of Stockport, said: “It’s outrageous. I can’t believe anyone would even think it. I used to watch him on Celebrity Juice and had no idea he was like that.
“He’s in the limelight and a lot of people look up to him. When a celebrity starts saying things like that other people will think it’s okay to do the same.”
Sam Armstrong, of counter-terror think tank The Henry Jackson Society, weighed in: “These comments are a disgrace and plainly offensive to victims and to our security services who he suggests were in on the plot to murder 22 people.”
The comic partly apologised in 2017, writing: “Okay, okay. Look, I’m probably too cynical, but I struggle believing our establishment is incapable of great evil. If you’re not, sorry.
“I guess, I’m not really alleging it as true, more that I don’t believe our establishment is incapable of such evil. Esp. during an election.”
During last week’s social media exchange, he explained: “It was something stupid I tweeted having spent three days at my friend’s funeral. I apologised.”
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Hound missed tonight’s Dancing On Ice after being in contact with someone with Covid. He tested negative but is isolating for ten days.
He has since admitted to being “hurtful and stupid” after previously tweeting other offensive jibes on the social media platform.
ITV declined to comment about his Arena remarks.