Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse on Strictly
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Strictly’s Oti Mabuse hits back at claims Shirley Ballas made her cry on show

Shirley criticised the pair's "rise and fall" during their performance

Oti Mabuse has insisted she was crying “happy tears” during Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The professional dancer shed a tear after head judge Shirley Ballas said there was “a little bit too much rise and fall” in her performance with former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher.

Shirley, 59, told the pair after their routine: “There’s very minimal rise and fall in the Viennese Waltz, and there’s just a little bit too much rise and fall for me.

Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse on Strictly
Oti shed a tear after Shirley’s criticism (Credit: BBC)

Read more: Strictly’s Oti Mabuse in tears after Shirley Ballas’ criticism

“Also the fleckerl that you chose to dance, and if you choose to dance it, it’s a rotary figure that should actually have more power, and it looked a little bit stuck, for me.

“Although I totally enjoyed the emotive part and I give you 100% for that, also I want to take into account the other one minute and 25 seconds that you’re dancing. But otherwise, I thought you did a grand job.”

Nothing Shirley said to us was wrong nor did it make me tear.

After viewers slammed Shirley for her criticism, Oti cleared things up on Twitter.

She wrote: “Just to be clear. Nothing @ShirleyBallas said to us was wrong nor did it make me tear, she was being honest and her critique is valuable to our journey.

“I’d like us to improve & as I stated before I was emotional about THE DANCE & how happy dancing made me feel (HAPPY TEARS).”

In another tweet, she said: “It’s okay to be human it doesn’t always have to mean something… most times it’s seeing someone else’s hardwork, dedication and passion of dance that can make you feel!!! What a great show to be apart of.”

It comes after viewers voiced their anger towards Shirley for criticising the pair’s routine.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing: Fans vow to BOYCOTT after Mike Bushell is saved again

One person said: “What is Shirley’s problem with @kelvin_fletcher he smashes it every week for me and she’s always knocking! #Strictly.”

Another wrote: “I thought Kelvin and Oti’s dance was stunning. Shirley and Craig can go suck a lemon.”

A third added: “Ahhh whatever Shirley, Kelvin and Oti for the win.”

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Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)