'He left his wife a year ago' Strictly's Kristina Rihanoff defends romance with Ben Cohen
KRISTINA RIHANOFF has denied she is a home-wrecker by claiming her boyfriend Ben Cohen left his wife a year ago.
Kristina Rihanoff has defended her romance with Ben Cohen
The Strictly Come Dancing star has insisted her romance with the 36-year-old former rugby player began after things had ended with the mother of his children, 37-year-old Abby.
"He left his wife a year ago. Recently we started dating but we’re allowed to see each other as two single people," Kristina said.
"I don’t know why I am always attacked. I am a hardworking, self-made person. I support five people in my family in Russia," the 37-year-old added.
Blonde Kristina went on to describe the backlash as "such double standards" as there have been other relationships to come out of the BBC One show.
Ben was paired with Kristina on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2013
"It is such double standards," she told the Daily Mirror. "Pasha [Kovalev] and Rachel [Riley] got together after the show but everyone believed them when they said they were just friends.
"Flavia [Cacace] had three relationships. Janette [Manrara] was with Pasha, Artem [Chigvintsev] and now Aljaz [Skorjanec] – but I am the horrible one."
Her comments come after it was reported that Abby wants Kristina axed from Strictly Come Dancing.
The mother-of-two, who has filed for a 'quickie' divorce, allegedly believes that Kristina is not suitable for the family TV show.
Abby has reportedly filed for a 'quickie' divorce
"She is still furious with Kristina," a friend of Abby's said recently.
"She considered her a friend while Ben was on Strictly, so seeing them together now is absolutely heartbreaking. Kristina and Ben still insist nothing happened between them while on the show and say they only started seeing each other in recent weeks.
"Abby is sceptical about that. She has told people close to her that she is going to do everything she can to get Kristina kicked off Strictly."