Shirley Ballas Says Ellie Leach Isn’t Leaving Without The Trophy
Shirley Ballas has responded to a troll who accused the star and her fellow Strictly judges of having already chosen this Saturday’s winner, before the public have even had the chance to vote. Shirley had initially tweeted: “My final show of It Takes Two complete… Now we just wait for the final. Who’s excited? Xxx”
Despite the positive post, one social media user fumed in her comments section: “Not me as you and your judges have already decided who will win! A professional, dancing with a professional!!”
Head judge Shirley, who usually doesn’t respond to negative comments, didn’t let this one fly and hit back: “Hi Neil. Thank you for your message. We as judges are only to guide in the final.
“We have no say on who will win. It is completely and utterly down to the public vote. So I say pick up that phone Neil and vote.”
Her response was met with support from fans. One wrote: “That’s a lot more gracious than the answer I would have given, Shirley…!” Another said: “You tell em Shirley!”
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While a fourth commented: “Very well said. I often wonder how many of those who comment actually bother to watch the show?”
The troll had been referring to finalist Layton Williams, who has suffered from cruel messages on social media for being a contestant, due to his professional dance experience as a theatre performer, who has been trained in tap and ballet.
Some angry viewers have claimed Strictly is a fix because the judges keep voting to keep Layton in. However, Shirley had actually wanted to vote the Bad Education star and his partner Nikita Kuzmin out in Week 10, and save Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu, after both couples landed in the dance-off.
While Angela was sent home after Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke gave her the boot, Shirley felt there were “a lot of elements missing” from Layton’s American Smooth.
“He was lucky that the other three saved him,” she said on Thursday on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two. “It wasn’t how I had taught American Smooth for 50 years. There were lots of things and elements missing. But I’m glad he’s here now and I’m very very excited to see him in the final.”
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Layton has now hit back at online trolls, admitting he feels that the hate has been brought on by his “multiracial background” and sexuality. According to MailOnline, Williams has said that the level of criticism he’s received has been “shocking.”
Speaking to the publication, he said: “Obviously, I was aware of the fact that it might have noise, but I definitely did not anticipate how much it has been because I am definitely not the first person to be in this position and I don’t understand why it’s shock horror news because I’m not the first and won’t be the last, let’s keep it moving, you know?
“From the very beginning, I’ve been like, cool, if people are going to expect a certain level, let’s give them that and then some.”
Layton and Nikita will be competing for the Glitterball Trophy on Saturday evening. The duo will be up against EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell, as well as Coronation Street star Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola.
The final of Strictly Come Dancing airs this Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.
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