Strictly Come Dancing fans have hit out at the judges after Katie Piper appeared close to tears at their comments.
She performed a paso doble to Confident by Demi Lovato, with her professional partner Gorka Marquez, but failed to impress the panel of experts.
There 👏 she 👏 is 👏 Confident Katie has arrived at #Strictly 💪 @KatiePiper_ @gorkamarquez1 pic.twitter.com/jHy1Brbp9n
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) 29 September 2018
Craig Revel Horwood branded her performance “very stomp-y” and “very plank-ish”, while head judge Shirley Ballas said: “You have channelled your inner strength and you looked like it was going to go well, and then you got on the wrong foot pretty much straight away and couldn’t get it back.”
Bruno Tonioli told her she took the right direction but failed to play the part.
Katie was visibly upset when she was scored just two points by Revel Horwood, three by Ballas and four by Bussell and Tonioli, for a combined total of 13.
Last @bbcstrictly rehearsal 4Team Korka. It’s been another week 4 @gorkamarquez1 marquez repeating same count &beats 2me thousand times, I’m always grateful 4his patiences – it’s been worth the long days &evenings I’m now ready 2channel my inner spainish dancer 💃🏼#teamkorka pic.twitter.com/onxGg3UBNU
— Katie Piper (@KatiePiper_) 29 September 2018
One fan wrote on Twitter: “Just me or was Bruno out of order then with his comments? There’s just no need to be that rude when she’s clearly nervous and not very confident.”
Another fan said: “Katie’s dance wasn’t any worse than Stacey’s and she got much more harsh criticism… a bit unfair I’d say.”
Another viewer said: “Poor Katie Piper. Unhelpful brutal judgey comments.”
Another said: “Just catching up. Poor Katie Piper, she was hurt and upset, these judges need to remember some contestants have never danced before ( how it should be not like Ashley).”
Another tweeted: “Oh katie you can see she was really upset by the comments and scores you could see how tearful she was getting #strictly I think she’s amazing.”
Speaking to Claudia Winkleman after her performance, Katie said: “No matter what the judges said, I had fun,” but she appeared to be fighting back tears.
Gorka meanwhile offered his support on Twitter, sharing a clip of their performance and commenting: “Confident Katie has arrived.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One on Sunday at 7.15pm.