Ashley Banjo has hit back after fans slammed his message to his estranged wife on her birthday.
The Diversity dancer, 34, and Francesca Abbott announced they had gone their separate ways in December 18 months before, after a 16-year romance.
Francesca celebrated her 36th birthday with a sweet selfie on Tuesday, sharing a picture of herself wearing a metallic bustier and mini skirt.
Ashley had written in the comments: ‘Happy birthday dude x’ alongside a hands up and prayer emoji.
Yet fans were quick to call him out for what they perceived to be too much of a casual post given their history.
Ouch! Diversity’s Ashley Banjo has hit back at fans on Instagram after they slammed his birthday message to estranged wife Francesca, (pictured) following their split
Not happy: Fans got involved after Ashley addressed his ex as ‘dude’, perceiving it to be too casual considering their shared history
Separation: Ashley revealed he has split from his wife Francesca Abbott back in December but they had actually broken up 18 months before that
One wrote: ‘Dude?? Sore.’
Another added: ‘Ouch!!!!’
Upon noticing the comments, Ashley wrote: ‘For those of you who wish to comment in outrage. This is what we’ve called each other for over a decade and a half.
‘But your input is very much appreciated.’
Francesca then penned: ‘Thanks dude,’ with a heart Emoji icon. And ‘Shut down lol he’s right though…we really have❤️.’
The Dancing On Ice judge and Francesca are childhood sweethearts who got engaged in 2014 and tied the knot in 2015.
They both took to their respective Instagrams in December to announce they had decided to separate 18 months ago.
They wrote that their main priority would be co-parenting their two children, Rose, three, and Micah, two.
‘Your input is very much appreciated’: Ashley was furious when he was forced to defend his comment
Support: Luckily Francesca had his back and confirmed that the pair had always affectionately called each other dude and it seems things are very much amicable between them
Parenting: The couple said their main focus will be on their two children, Rose and Micah after their split 18 months ago
Statement: They both took to their respective Instagrams in December to announce they had decided to separate 18 months ago
Ashley and Francesca said: ‘After much thought and consideration we both feel now is the time to share some personal news.
‘Nearly 18 months ago we took the difficult decision to separate. After being together for over 16 years, since we were teenagers, this is not a decision that has been taken lightly.
‘It has not been easy and the processing of the situation has not been fast by any means. But we feel that as we approach the new year it is time to share this news with others.
‘Our main focus will always be our beautiful children. Every decision that has been made is to make sure we can continue as a loving family and give the very best of ourselves as parents.
‘Raising Rose and Micah in a healthy and happy environment is the most important thing to both of us.
‘Sometimes after so many years people just move in different directions, but we do so lovingly and we continue to try and be both the best parents possible and the best of friends to each other.
Split: The Dancing On Ice judge, 31, and Francesca are childhood sweethearts and have been together for 16 years; they got engaged in 2014 and tied the knot in 2015
‘We have always been private with our personal lives, so we kindly ask that everyone please continue to respect that privacy. We won’t be making any further comment on the situation.
They concluded: ‘Thank you… Lots of Love Ash and Chess x’
Francesca last posted Ashley to her Instagram on October 4, to wish him a happy birthday.
She wrote: ‘Happy Birthday @ashleybanjogram. We love you more than we could ever say in a caption.
‘Everything you do, everything you give, and how tirelessly you work for us. Happy Birthday. We love you so much ❤️ xxxx’.
Ashley previously discussed the couple’s ‘tough’ journey to conceive and his excitement at becoming a father first time around during an interview on Lorraine.
Family: They wrote that their main priority would be co-parenting their two children, Rose, three, and Micah, two
Last post: Francesca last posted Ashley to her Instagram on October 4, to wish him a happy birthday
Speaking of his excitement out of 10 at the impending birth, he said: ‘There’s no number.
‘Honestly, it’s already quite surreal for me to think there’s a little baby Banjo on the way, little girl.’
Speaking to The Sun previously, Ashley admitted it was hard when his busy schedule kept him away from his family.
Describing his life at the time as ‘amazing’ raising children, he said: ‘You always hear the words that it is life-changing when you have kids, but you never really know what it is like until you experience it.
‘Kids are the best thing that has happened to me in my life. But oh my gosh, I feel like I experience dad guilt 24/7 if I am honest.’
‘All you want to be is a good dad, and it’s trying to get the right balance that I have probably found most challenging,’ he confessed.
‘Trying to make sure my kids feel like I am present, but also trying to provide for them. It’s knowing that you have to walk out the door.’
Francesca is a member of another dance troupe called Out of the Shadow, which Ashley once choreographed.
Ashley once revealed that he took her to the Science Museum in London for their first date in 2005.
He said: ’14 years ago I couldn’t drive, so I took this girl on a date to the science museum to try and make her laugh and impress her with how much I knew about the nerdiest subjects possible instead.’
Ashley shot to fame when his dance troupe, Diversity, won the third series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.
He later became a co-judge on Sky1’s Got To Dance, and joined the judging panel of ITV1 celebrity skating show Dancing On Ice.
Star: Ashley shot to fame when his dance troupe, Diversity, won the third series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 (pictured)
