‘She has no credibility as a judge’: Strictly viewers slam Shirley Ballas for her ‘sexist’ comments as they call for her to be removed from panel
- Shirley Ballas has been branded ‘sexist’ by Strictly Come Dancing viewers who have been left unimpressed by her seemingly favouring the male stars on the show
- The series judge, 62, has also been accused of having ‘favourites whether they have ability or not’, with some viewers calling for her to be sacked on Twitter as they claim she has ‘no credibility as a judge’
- It comes after the twinkle-toed star called for the television audience at home to have ‘respect’ after she received a flurry of ‘hurtful messages’ on social media
Shirley Ballas has been branded ‘sexist’ by Strictly Come Dancing viewers who have been left unimpressed by her seemingly favouring the male stars on the show.
The series judge, 62, has also been accused of having ‘favourites whether they have ability or not’, with some viewers calling for her to be sacked on Twitter as they claim she has ‘no credibility as a judge’.
It comes after the twinkle-toed star called for the television audience at home to have ‘respect’ after she received a flurry of ‘hurtful messages’ on social media.
Controversial comments: Shirley Ballas, 62, has been branded ‘sexist’ by Strictly viewers who have been left unimpressed by her seemingly favouring the male stars on the show
Following Sunday’s dance off, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse chose to save Fleur East whereas Shirley said she would have saved Richie Anderson, who was given the boot from the show.
It prompted one viewer to tweet: ‘Sexist Shirley would have saved Richie over Fleur. Ffs, Richie’s dance had negligible Samba content and he fannied around the judges’ tables for half the dance.
‘Fleur’s dance was elegant and beautiful. She has no credibility as a judge.’
One viewer wrote: ‘Shirley seems to have completely lost the plot this season. She is downright rude, sexist and blatantly has her favourites whether they have ability or not. I am rapidly losing all respect for her!!!’
All change? The series judge has also been accused of having ‘favourites whether they have ability or not’, with some viewers calling for her to be sacked
Someone else posted: ‘The way Shirley speaks to the women is unacceptable. She clearly has an issue with young attractive women and this affects her judge.
‘Furthermore, the suggestive tone she uses to the make celebrities is sexist. All been happening since she began. BBC, you have just lost 2 viewers.’
‘Shirley Ballas should be removed from the panel, she’s setting a bad example,’ another viewer declared. ‘She cannot celebrate the young, female celebrities. Her views are outdated and sexist. Please let this be her last year, or preferably week on, #Strictly.’
Another Strictly fan posted: ‘I have said this before, but if Anton made similar comments about the female dancers there would be uproar. I do think Motsi and Shirley need to rein in the sexist comments towards male dancers.’
Opinions: Members of the television audience took to Twitter over the weekend to express their views on Shirley’s remarks
While someone else shared: ‘Shirley’s scoring has been wild and almost random, and others have said it seems sexist and vindictive. I guess that’s why there are four judges.’
Another viewer posted: ‘I’m not confused, she was definitely sexist in her praise tonight and who wants to see her openly drooling over all the men ffs! If the male judges behaved like that to the female contestants they’d be in all sorts of trouble. Shirley, be more professional and less creepy.’
And another audience member tweeted: ‘Can we stop the sexist comments to the male celebrities! #shirley #craig #willmellor #mattgoss.’
Switch up: Some called for Shirley to be removed from the judging panel after she lost credibility in their eyes
It comes after Shirley asked fans to have ‘respect’ as she said she’d received several apologies for a flurry of ‘hurtful messages’ from Strictly Come Dancing viewers.
The head judge became the target of furious backlash for choosing to save Richie and his professional partner Giovanni Pernice over Fleur and partner Vito Coppola on Sunday night.
Fleur and Vito managed to win the judges’ vote after the dance off, but Shirley revealed she would have opted save radio DJ Richie instead.
This angered viewers at home, who argued that Fleur had been the superior dancer to Richie, and that Shirley should be replaced.
One said: ‘Shirley Ballas seems to have a clear dislike for Fleur East and seems to let her personal feelings cloud any professionalism she should be displaying. Such an unfair Judge.’
A second agreed, saying: ‘I’m not a dancer but I have eyes. I cannot fathom how Shirley Ballas would have kept Richie over Fleur’.
Request: It comes after Shirley asked fans to have ‘respect’ as she said she’d received several apologies for a flurry of ‘hurtful messages’ from Strictly Come Dancing viewers
Criticism: The head judge became the target of furious backlash for choosing to save Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice (pictured) over Fleur East and Vito Coppola on Sunday night
A third questioned: ‘So @ShirleyBallas would have saved Ritchie over Fleur? Be interested to know why…’
A fourth echoed: ‘Shirley would have save Richie over Fleur?! Whaaaaaaaaat??! Lost all respect for her now. New head judge please’.
And a fifth voiced their shock, writing: ‘This is only for Strictly fans; what on Earth was Shirley Ballas watching to say she would have saved Richie rather than Fleur in the dance off tonight.
Opinion: Fleur and Vito managed to win the judges’ vote after the dance off, but Shirley revealed she would have opted save the DJ instead
‘Richie is a nice guy but Fleur is demonstrably the better dancer. We were gobsmacked when she said that!’
It comes after Shirley also faced criticism for her negatives critiques towards Ellie Taylor during Saturday night’s Movie Week show.
On Monday, Shirley took to Twitter to react to the backlash and say she had received ‘many apologies’.
‘New head judge please’: This angered viewers at home, who argued that Fleur had been the superior dancer to Richie, and that Shirley should be replaced
She wrote: ‘I have received many apologies over the weekend regarding hurtful messages I’ve received on social media.
‘All apologies are accepted and from now on let’s all respect each other and enjoy the show. Love to you all’.
Several fans came to her defence, with one writing: ‘Some of the comments were disgraceful, I’m pleased to hear you have getting many apologies. There is no need for insults & abuse, you are doing the job you have trained for many years in & you are the expert Shirley.’
Having her say: On Monday, Shirley took to Twitter to react to the backlash and say she had received ‘many apologies’
Another said: ‘Poor @ShirleyBallas all weekend I’ve read vile hurtful comments for her just doing her job. @BBCStrictly is an entertainment show, why can’t people just enjoy it for what is is. You got this @ShirleyBallas’.
It comes after viewers rushed to Twitter horrified by the couples that found themselves in the dance off claiming the show to be fixed.
One fan wrote: ‘WTF Fleur and Vito! I rest my point about it being a fix’ and another said: ‘Fix or what? there were much worse dancers than those in the dance off!!’.
Defenders: Several fans came to her defence, with one writing: ‘Some of the comments were disgraceful, I’m pleased to hear you have getting many apologies’
Another bemoaned Fleur and Ritchie’s costumes saying:’ What a fix, if this doesn’t prove that the producers are deciding the order people leave in by giving them duff music/costumes. hardest dances I don’t know what does’.
Before another said: ‘I’m sorry how is Matt Goss safe? It’s a fix’.
And another said: ‘Strictly Come DANCING … the clue is in the title. It’s not called Strictly Come Entertainment. Shirley is disgustingly biased towards Fleur, Ellie T and Kym. Tony should’ve been booted out last week. It’s a disgrace that he keeps getting through and good dancers go. It’s a fix’.
Unhappy: And viewers rushed to Twitter horrified by the couples that found themselves in the dance off claiming the show to be fixed
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