Fr Ray Kelly with dance partner Kylee Vincent on Dancing with the Stars
Credit: Kyran O'Brien Fr Ray Kelly says he will not quit RTÉ1’s Dancing With The Stars despite receiving abusive emails, letters and threatening phone calls demanding his departure from the show.
The Co Meath priest, 66, has been the subject of a hate campaign for his continuing presence on the show, which has made him consider leaving.
“I was in a bad place for a few weeks,” said Fr Kelly.
“I got hate mail and verbal abuse at the end of January which was very negative towards me, being a priest and being on this show.
“As a priest for 31 years, I’ve never experienced that level of criticism.
“I hadn’t said much and kept quiet about it, but the media wanted to meet me after Darren (Kennedy) got voted off and they unearthed it.
He added: “I owe it to the people who are voting for me to keep going and after what happened with Caroline Flack.”
Fr Kelly and Kylee Vincent performed the Salsa to Feeling Hot Hot Hot by The Merryman performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
The clergyman scored 14 points with judge Lorraine Barry praising him for having the show’s “biggest ingredient” of entertainment.
Likewise judge Darren Bennett, filling in for Julian Benson, said: “You are here and you are entertaining the nation, so very well done!”
Fr Kelly was announced as the second contestant made safe by the public vote on Sunday, February 22.
B*Witched singer Sineád O’Carroll was the fifth celebrity to depart the show after a dance off with Lottie Ryan.
“I told Sineád that I was sorry [for her being voted off] and that it should have been me,” said Fr Kelly.
“I said that she was a great dancer, while I am just hanging in there.”
The show continues this Sunday, March 1.