Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas has responded to fans who were left outraged to see Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin be the latest couple to leave the competition on Sunday.
The chief judge, 64, burst out confessing that she thought it was “childish” to blame the judges for the outcome.
Shirley came under fire over the weekend after fans of the BBC show revealed they believed the judges did not rate Sam because they believed there were weaker dancers who scored higher.
But now she has responded and reminded the public that their vote has an impact on who participates in the dance on Sunday nights.
The judge said: ‘The program has been running for more than 20 years. The public vote makes a difference.’
Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas has responded to fans who were left outraged to see Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin be the latest couple to leave the competition on Sunday.
The head judge, 64, snapped, confessing that she thought it was “childish” to blame the judges for the couple’s outcome.
‘You, the public, can vote to save your favorites. It is childish to blame the judges.
After being accused of unfairly disparaging female celebrities, Shirley responded: “I don’t have a mean bone in my body.”
Sam and Nikita earned a score of 29 for their performance on American Smooth during Saturday’s episode, moving them to the bottom of the rankings.
Then, after a public vote, they faced off in a clash dance against Montell Douglas and Johannas Radebe, causing the judges to reject them.
But the couple’s score left fans outraged as they claimed they had received an unfair score.
Shirley came under fire over the weekend after fans of the BBC show revealed they believed the judges didn’t rate Sam because they believed weaker dancers scored higher.
But now she has responded and reminded the public that their vote has an impact on who participates in the dance on Sunday nights.
Sam and Nikita earned a score of 29 for their performance on American Smooth during Saturday’s episode, moving them to the bottom of the rankings.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: ”These last two when Wynne and Pete are there?!?!’
“If we don’t see Wynne or Pete at the dance next week, I’ll start.”
‘I need Pete to be the dance next week. We’re losing decent dancers and he’s just not there.
‘#strictly pete shayne and wynne were the weakest!’
‘Pete should have gone home this week, it was atrocious. Yes, I have read the spoiler and I am very angry. The other couple should NEVER have been around the dance.
‘Poor Sam didn’t deserve to go. Pete did it. Shirley didn’t judge him fairly, he doesn’t have all the series. She needs the firing. She has ruined this show by the way she chose her favorites. Len never did.
‘Sam and Montel should never have been in the dance contest. There are some mediocre men who should have been there. Very unfair since both were what it was strictly about. I loved watching them both progress.
Then, after a public vote, they faced off in a clash dance against Montell Douglas and Johannas Radebe, causing the judges to reject them.
But the couple’s scoring left fans outraged as they claimed they had been scored unfairly.
On Sunday, Sam and Nikita performed their American Smooth to Love Story by Taylor Swift again, while Montell and Johannes performed their waltz I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.
The sixth results show of the series closed out ICONS week with an electrifying K-Pop performance and a group dance by Beyoncé.
On Sunday, Sam and Nikita performed their American Smooth to Love Story by Taylor Swift again, while Montell and Johannes performed their waltz I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.
With three votes in favor of Montell and Johannes, they obtained the majority of votes, meaning that Sam and Nikita would leave the competition.
Chief Judge Shirley Ballas also agreed, saying she would have decided to save Montell and Johannes.
When Tess asked him about his time on the show, Sam said: “I’m gutted, I just want to say thank you.”
‘I have learned a lot. Strictly just brought that spring to my step back. It has been an absolute joy.
‘Nikita, you’ve been key in helping me find that inner Sam that was there, who was a little quiet for a year or two and just came back. “I am devastated because I feel like I still have more to give.”
Nikita said: “I’m in awe of this girl.” Sometimes they say it’s about the journey, not the destination, but for me it’s about the company.
“Sam, you are the most wonderful company I could have ever had.”
In a surprising turn of events, the celebrities in the bottom two with their partners were hockey star Sam and Gladiator Montell.
Both couples performed their routines again during Sunday’s results presentation and all four judges unanimously saved Montell and Johannes, and Sam and Nikita were sent home.
On Sunday, Sam and Nikita performed their American Smooth to Love Story by Taylor Swift again, while Montell and Johannes performed their waltz I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.
“I’m guilty of watching the competition and thinking, ‘How do they have that relationship as a celebrity and a dancer?’ Sam added.
‘All I can say is the time they spend together and what they bring out in each other. It really is, and it sounds absolutely cheesy, magical.
Viewers were treated to a performance by new K-Pop boyband dearALICE, as well as a dazzling medley from Beyoncé.
In the group dance, Johannes channeled her inner Sasha Fierce as the lead in the routine, which was full of bejeweled cowboy hats, power ballad moves, and sparkling sass.
Strict fans were left shocked after the results were leaked again online in a huge spoiler.
Many were surprised to see who finished in the bottom two and had to dance their routines a second time.
With three votes in favor of Montell and Johannes, they obtained the majority of votes, meaning that Sam and Nikita would leave the competition.
When Tess asked him about his time on the show, Sam said: “I’m gutted, I just want to say thank you.”
While others expressed their annoyance at the leak that has been common most Sundays during the recent series due to a notorious mole.
They wrote on X (Twitter): ‘Are you really that upset about this??? None of the couples in the dance competition deserved to be there when they have improved week after week and then there are others who have had several bad weeks and keep going.’,
‘THAT?! I’M GROUND!! Actually, this has completely pissed me off.’,
‘I’m sorry what!! My first question is why weren’t any of the couples at the dance??!! And second, why are the worst still there?’
‘What the hell did I just see??? To begin with, the two couples at the dance were not supposed to be at the dance.