Greg Rutherford's partner has responded to claims that she dresses her two-year-old son Milo "like a girl". Journalist Susie Verrill has penned an open letter to critics, following Milo's brief appearance on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night.
The short segment showed Milo running into his dad's arms during a training session, before father and son set about practicing spinning together – but to the couple's dismay, some viewers chose to comment on the little boy's appearance, rather than on the sweet family moment.
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Greg Rutherford's son Milo made an appearance on Strictly on Saturday night
Now Susie has hit back in a strongly-worded post on her blog. "We're growing Milo's hair at the moment and it's pretty unruly," she wrote. "Reminiscent of Worzel Gummidge if Worzel had just been on an open top helicopter ride, that sort of thing.
"We'll get it trimmed and styled at some point, but it won't be going any shorter and in the grand scheme of things, ensuring the two year old human we look after has neat tresses doesn't feature too highly given that thanks to our schedule we barely get a moment to wash our bits. So when we were ready to go along to film, I popped it up in a top knot (a style he regularly rocks at home when I realise his fringe is acting like a forehead shield) and off we went.
Greg and partner Susie Verrill welcomed their little boy in 2014
"I expected a lot of criticism for this; I was braced, prepared and in no way bothered. I know a top knot for a little boy is still a bit iffy and of course, well aware it makes my cherub-faced son resemble a girl. I’m not a total moron and I do have the ability to see. The thing that did surprise me though, was the backlash I received for his outfit and the fact I apparently, dress my son 'in girl clothes'."
Susie then went on to respond to specific criticism of Milo's clothes – a red printed jumper and black and white trousers. "I don't think boys should stick to blue, black, trucks, robots, footballs and monsters," she wrote. "Of course, we do love all that stuff, but so will any future daughter of ours (if we happen to have one). Milo does wear blue, he just didn't happen to that day. Actually, his boots were blue, bright blue. So there… YOU'VE GOT SOME BLUE, GUYS."
The couple have been together since 2012
She concluded her powerful post by writing: "I'm safe in the knowledge Milo's trendy (I can use that word now I'm a mum) and even if he wasn't, he's happy. And that's all that matters. The VT from the other night showed a cheerful, vibrant young boy-girl and that's enough to keep my spirits soaring. I can gladly confirm I dress my son in 'girl clothes'."