Strictly Come Dancing head decide Shirley Ballas has been fiercely criticised after revealing she would have determined to save lots of eradicated celeb Richie Anderson over Fleur East following Sunday night time’s dance off.
BBC presenter Richie and Giovanni Pernice grew to become the second pair booted out of the BBC One competitors after touchdown within the backside two alongside singer Fleur.
After each {couples} carried out for the panel as soon as once more, Bruno Tonioli, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke delivered their verdict on who they wished to maintain.
With three votes to Fleur and Vito, it meant that they had gained the bulk vote and could be staying in to carry out subsequent week.
Head Decide Shirley was then requested who she would have chosen, to which she stated: ‘Properly with the 2 {couples} the general public put within the backside two I might have saved Richie and Giovanni.’
Many viewers questioned Shirley’s resolution, particularly on condition that Fleur had obtained 29 factors for her American clean to Half Of Your World from The Little Mermaid together with her dance associate Vito Coppola, when Richie had scored 27 for his samba to Hakuna Matata from the much-loved Disney film The Lion King.
Amid the backlash, nonetheless, Shirley herself revealed she had been despatched an abusive message from one explicit viewer who didn’t agree together with her alternative.
Taking to social media, she shared a screenshot from the troll, that learn: ‘You’re a f*cking t*at.’
Writing on Twitter, Shirley captioned her put up: ‘Right here we’re once more how unhappy’.
Some had been fast to defend the Strictly decide and despatched her supportive tweets in response.
‘Pointless,’ stated one. ‘You do you, Shirley. Sustain the nice work.’
One other added: ‘That should be so upsetting. Please take no discover. Simpler stated than achieved I do know massive hug.’
Others, nonetheless, continued to voice their shock at Shirley’s verdict.
‘Some are shocked you’d save Richie,’ one stated. ‘His routine seemed so poor on TV Did we miss one thing that you simply noticed?’
‘You’re speculated to be neutral,’ one other posted. ‘To say publicly you’ll have saved Richie is an insult. Develop up.’
There’s simply no pleasing everybody.
Reflecting on his departure, Richie advised host Tess Daly: ‘As a Strictly fan I at all times thought it was a magical factor to be part of, and being right here it truly is and it’s not simply the individuals that you simply see on digicam, the judges, and also you and (co-host Claudia Winkleman) Claud and the wonderful people who I’ve acquired to satisfy on this present.
‘The individuals behind the scenes in hair, make-up, costume, Tasha our runner, Stef, Jas, everyone. I additionally wish to thank this man [Giovanni] as nicely, he’s been so wonderful, and I really feel so fortunate that I’ve acquired to bounce with you day-after-day.
‘Not solely are you a improbable dancer however you’re additionally a improbable man on high of that. I wish to thank all my household and mates and my different half Dean, who’s within the viewers, I like you a lot.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.
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