Strictly's Tasha Ghouri 'hurt' as she's forced to address cruel jibes from viewers

Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri has opened up about the cruel jibes she's faced from viewers, as she revealed that she was left 'hurt' by the comments

Tasha Ghouri, the former Love Island contestant who was born deaf, has opened up about the "hurt" she felt upon discovering that viewers had made unkind remarks about her voice. Speaking on the Working Hard, Hardly Working podcast, which aired on October 30, 2023, the 26 year old Strictly Come Dancing star and model, who received a cochlear implant when she was five, described her post-villa experience as "so overwhelming".

Tasha, who placed fourth on the ITV2 show with partner Andrew Le Page, talked about the mix of reactions she encountered, including a tough conversation with her father who prepared her for the harsh words being said online. She recounted: "Like, you had negatives, positives, so much love and it's like...you see so many different things, but I didn't go looking for it. I was very like...my dad basically had just sat me down and told me pretty much things that were said and 'just to warn you'."

The reality TV star further shared the pain she felt over comments about her hearing, saying: "He was very honest and I was like, 'fair enough', and I think...the only thing that probably hurt me the most was about my hearing, like, people taking the mick out of my voice, the way I spoke."

Tasha also revealed: "People were literally making TikToks about my voice, taking the mick out of my voice, yeah. It's crazy. And I think that's probably the only thing that hurt me because I was a bit like, 'I can't help how I speak'."

Tasha Ghouri, from Strictly Come Dancing, has chosen not to retaliate against online negativity. Instead, she is employing her growing influence to enlighten those who leave unsavoury comments and to increase awareness about living with a cochlear implant.

On her Instagram page, Tasha recently shared insights into managing life with her cochlear implant, describing how double-sided tape keeps the device affixed to her ear. Without it, Tasha explained, she's unable to hear even her own voice.

Highlighting the consequences of not using her implant, she posted: "Why does my voice change when I take out my cochlear implant? Because I can't hear my own voice, I can't hear how loud I'm speaking, what my tone's like and my pitching, so naturally my voice changes."

As a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec, she has spoken about the sense of pride she feels in being born into the deaf community.

On a more personal note, Tasha, known also for her stint on Love Island with co-star Andrew, has been achieving several personal milestones. The pair have moved into their first home, commemorated their relationship with matching tattoos and expanded their family by adopting a dog.

Since their exit from the show, Tasha and Andrew's relationship continues to grow as they settled into a new residence earlier this year and look forward to celebrating their second anniversary come the summer season.