STRICTLY Come Dancing’s head judge Shirley Ballas has shared a cryptic message about “loyalty” after some fans demanded she was sacked.
The BBC show star, 62, who is dubbed “the Queen of Latin” came under fire after Sunday’s results show amid unfounded suggestions she is “sexist.”
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has posted a cryptic message about ‘loyalty’
It comes after some fans demanded she was ‘sacked’ from the BBC show
The dance veteran has been accused of preferring male celebrity dancers to women on the hit BBC1 show.
Yet in perhaps her attempt to hit back, Shirley last night took to her Instagram page to upload a cryptic quote.
The image showed a dark figure standing next to a pale figure in white and the text: “Some people aren’t loyal to you, they are loyal to their need of you.
“Once their need changes, so does their loyalty.”
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Strictly‘s Shirley is no stranger to calling out trolls on her Instagram page – so perhaps this is a tacit nod to the haters.
Fans went into meltdown after this weekend’s results show during which she once again backed a man over his “skilled” female rival, critics say.
Singer Fleur East, 34, and pro partner Vito Coppola, 30, survived the dance off, but Shirley said she would have booted them out in favour of Radio 2’s Richie Anderson, 34, who performed a Samba dressed as a meerkat.
Viewers raged on social media, accusing the head judge of bias and calling for her to go.
It was claimed she was unable to “celebrate the young, female celebrities” and “felt threatened by” and was “overly critical” of attractive women dancers.
One viewer fumed on Twitter: “Sexist Shirley would rather save men darting around in animal costumes than the technically-skilled and beautiful dancer Fleur?”
Teacher Lizzie Man Neon blasted: “Shirley Ballas should be removed from the panel. She’s setting a bad example. Her views are outdated and sexist. Please let this be her last year, or preferably week.”
More than a thousand people liked the comment.
Yet others suggested fact the duo were in the bottom two showed the outcome was “racist.”
Shirley was also criticised for being harsh on comedian Ellie Taylor, 38, during Saturday’s Movie Week show.
Host Tess Daley, 53, jumped to Ellie’s defence when the judge told her: “From today I’m not accepting any heel leads. That goes for everybody because you have a choice and you have been told.”
Tess told Shirley she was being “very strict”, prompting fellow judge Anton Du Beke, 56, to say: “If it’s any consolation, I feel like I’ve been a bit told off myself.”
Pro-dancer Nikita Kuzmin, 24, also seemed confused amid “conflicting” comments to his partner swimmer Ellie Simmonds, 27, who was also criticised for heel work, but scored a seven from Shirley.
Fans were already critical of Shirley’s response to Ellie after she gave her just five points in week two, compared to ex-footie star Tony Adams’ six points for his Charleston.
It is not the first time Shirley has faced backlash over favouritism.
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My daughter’s been asking to dye her hair - I gave in but trolls slammed me
Last year, actor Greg Wise, 56, was axed in favour of comedian Judi Love, 42, before Shirley was able to vote.
But she said she would have chosen Sense and Sensibility star Greg, provoking social media fury.
Strictly’s Nikita called out Shirley for her comments to Ellie Simmonds
They called out her decision to save Richie over Fleur East
Fans have also called out her voting record over the years
