The brothers were beaten up over the Christmas holidays
Strictly Come Dancing fans were left angry and heartbroken over the news that dancers AJ Pritchard and his brother Curtis were beaten up in an unprovoked attack while on a night out last week. It is believed that eight people beat up AJ and Curtis in the awful attack. Curtis, who was due to return to Ireland for Dancing With The Stars, had to undergo an emergency operation on his knee, and both boys suffered bruising on their faces.
Now, the pair have now spoken out about what happened and the injuries they've endured. Speaking to The Sun on New Year's Eve, AJ revealed that Curtis jumped in front of him to try and protect him from the attackers, saying: "Curtis risked his own dancing career to save mine as he threw himself in front of the attackers so they couldn’t get to me.
"He was thinking of both my dancing career with my legs and my TV career with my face. He tried to protect me and in doing so saved my life and my legs from danger.
"I soon realised there were no winners in this scenario. I just wanted us both to come out alive. I care more about Curtis than I do about selfies and looking good."
Curtis added: "It could have been fatal" before explaining: "There were about eight lads on two of us and we’re not fighters. We’re not there for a fight. We don’t want to cause trouble.
We were just minding our own business, then all of a sudden there was a load of lads around us. I just felt a hard, violent push on my left side, as if someone had lunged at me, and that’s when it all kicked off."
Security staff then moved in and AJ was able to drag Curtis off the dancefloor to safety. Curtis is still recovering from surgery and has sadly pulled out of Dancing With The Stars. Heartbreakingly, he said: "I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t dance again.
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Most memorable Strictly Come Dancing moments EVER! SLIDER
1 of 131. Ann Widdecombe as Big Bird
2 of 132. Bruce Forsyth shooing McFly off the dancefloor after Harry Judd won in 2011
3 of 133. Gavin Henson snogging Bruno Tonioli
4 of 134. Mark Ramprakash getting tangled up with his partner Karen Hardy
5 of 135. Russell Grant emerging from a seashell
6 of 136. Nancy Dell'Olio's terrible Halloween performance
7 of 137. Quentin Wilson gets the lowest score ever. Erm, 8 out of 40...
8 of 139. Ann Widdecombe's Paso Doble
9 of 1310. John Sergeant's wasn't much better, mind you...
10 of 1311. Bruce Forsyth and Anton du Beck join forces
11 of 13Russell Grant gets shot out of a cannon
12 of 1312. Ed Balls' EPIC Gangnam Style routine
13 of 1313. Susan Calman totally killing it as Wonder Woman
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STRICTLY STARS REACT TO THE ATTACK...
Strictly stars were outraged at the horrible news about AJ and his brother being attacked. Many took to Instagram to express their anger and send their best wishes to the brothers.
Aljaz Skorjanec wrote: 'So upset by the news about @Aj11Ace and @CurtisPritchard!! Two lovely guys that mean no harm to anyone ever!! I can not believe it. To the thugs that did that.. shall we dance???? #fuming'.
While Giovanni Pernice added: "Wtf is wrong with this people ????? Guys I’m so sorry @CurtisPritchard @Aj11Ace I’m with you all the way !! Disgusting !!!"
We're wishing AJ and Curtis a speedy recovery.