Shirley Ballas has divided Strictly Come Dancing viewers following her decision to save Tom Fletcher.
The 61-year-old star went against her fellow judges – who voted to save Rhys Stephenson – during last night’s results show.
As it was three votes against one, Tom and partner Amy Dowden were forced to leave the competition.
Shirley Ballas on Strictly
Tom and Rhys landed in the dance-off on Sunday night.
The McFly singer had hoped to impress the judges for a second time with his Couple’s Choice to On My Own from Les Misérables.
However, three of the judges opted to save Rhys and Nancy following their Jive routine.
Read more: Strictly results: Peak rage from viewers as Tom and Amy are eliminated
Motsi Mabuse said: “There was a clear fighter and I did feel that Rhys and Nancy put on an extra level.”
Anton Du Beke and guest judge Cynthia Erivo also saved the CBBC presenter.
But as host Tess Daly asked for Shirley‘s opinion, the head judge shared a different view.
Shirley said: “No, I would have saved Tom and Amy.”
It isn’t the first time Shirley has went against her fellow judges, after previously choosing to save Greg Wise and Adam Peaty.
However, Strictly viewers appeared divided over her comment.
How did Strictly fans respond?
Taking to Twitter, one said: “Great dance-off, but correct decision. Well done, Rhys and Nancy! Shirley pretended she’d save Tom just for effect #Strictly2021.”
Another added: “@bbcone Why doesn’t Shirley have to give her reasons when she undermines the rest of the panel and the confidence of the saved couple? Without her reasons it smacks of attempted dramatic effect #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly.”
In addition, a third wrote: “There is just no point in Shirley continually saying that she’d have saved the other couple.”
https://twitter.com/knittynora62/status/1462510302403121159
https://twitter.com/_erinz_/status/1462510191652524035
https://twitter.com/brummie1984/status/1462516678466674695
Great dance-off, but correct decision. Well done, Rhys and Nancy! Shirley pretended she'd save Tom just for effect. #Strictly2021 #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing
— Karyn M. Cooke (@KarynCooke) November 21, 2021
Anyone else bored of Shirley's "no, I would've saved <eliminated celeb> actually" schtick every time it's 3-0 and was even a bit close?
No celeb is there thinking "I got voted out 3-1 instead of 4-0, that makes me feel a lot better". It just makes her look bad.#Strictly
— Jason (@cornishyinzer) November 21, 2021
tbh if i was a judge i would do that too so they don’t think no one voted for them
— north ⧗ saw eternals x2 ! (@gcdofmischeif) November 21, 2021
A fourth complained: “Shirley is such a hypocrite called Tom out for not showing emotion yet she would of saved him. #Strictly.”
A fifth posted: “Every time three judges are unanimous in the dance off and they ask Shirley ‘not that it makes any difference’ she always chooses the other couple as some sort of contrary move #Strictly.”
However, one added: “Tbh if I was a judge I would do that too so they don’t think no one voted for them.”
Read more: Strictly star Dan Walker hits back at viewer ‘fury’ as they accuse show of ‘BBC favouritism’
Meanwhile, Shirley defended her decision to save Tom on Loose Women earlier today.
The head judge explained that she didn’t expect to see the musician in the bottom two.
She added: “The quality of his performance was outstanding for me.”
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