Shirley Ballas has well and truly divided the Strictly Come Dancing fanbase following her comments after Sunday’s dance-off between Layton Williams and Angela Scanlon.
After fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke all decided to save Williams, Ballas bucked the trend – although her vote was ultimately redundant.
During Saturday’s show, Ballas also marked Williams and Nikita Kuzmin the lowest of the evening after lifting her eight paddle for their American Smooth – although it is worth noting Nigel Harman and Angela Scanlon also received the same score for their respective routines.
But while du Beke called it the “closest dance-off of the series so far” and Mabuse said it was “tough” to send Scanlon home, Ballas appeared fully committed to her dance-off verdict.
“Well, important for me always when it comes to ballroom and Latin is the character of the dance,” she began to Tess Daly.
“That it’s true to the dance and the timing and quality… and I would’ve voted for Angela and Carlos.”
Shirley Ballas said she’d have saved Layton Williams
BBC
Scanlon said soon after she heard the news of her imminent exit: “It’s been incredible, honestly I’m gutted, really gutted that it’s finished now.
“But it’s been the most wonderful experience, I have made the best friend in this man,” she continued while patting Carlos Gu on the chest before she choked up and emotionally paid tribute to her family, friends, and co-stars.
But while the result in itself was a talking point, Ballas’s comments also sparked quite a reaction.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, several fans have accused the head judges of sparking a feud with the 29-year-old actor.
“Between her comments last night and choosing to save Angela tonight, Shirley has an obvious personal problem with Layton and I won’t hear otherwise. I hope this won’t knock his confidence. #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing,” one fan penned.
While a second also thought they spotted tension: “Shirley will really have the knives out for Layton next week, better beware. #Strictly.”
“Shirley! What is her bloody issue with Layton??” a third fan questioned. “Like be real why would u not have saved the better dancer and dance (I love Angela btw) #Strictly.”
A fourth queried: “So Shirley voted Angela and Carlos because of how Nikita choreo’d? So, is she saying regardless of how Layton performed whether it be well or rotten she was voting against it cos the character of the dance wasn’t right? How’s that Laytons fault? #Strictly.”
Layton Williams was saved by three of the judges
BBC
While a fifth bluntly put: “Thank f*** we didn’t give Shirley the head judge vote because she f***ing hates Layton for no reason #Strictly.”
However, others sided with the head judge for her decision, including one person who argued: “Sad to see Angela go. The problem with Layton is he over-performs and under dances. Well done Shirley for saying so #Strictly.” (sic)
Williams will be hoping he has what it takes to win Ballas over in the quarter-finals next week as he faces off against Annabel Croft, Bobby Brazier, Ellie Leach and Nigel Harman.
Ballas’s reaction to the dance-off wasn’t the only major talking point from Sunday’s results show after a number of fans slammed William’s reaction to finding out he’d landed in the bottom two.
A number even accused the actor of snubbing host Daly as he admitted he was “disappointed” to have to dance again.
