Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas admits she hates having the deciding vote as head judge – after receiving an ‘overwhelming’ amount of hate

As a seasoned observer of human behavior, I find myself deeply moved by the harrowing tale of Shirley Ballas, the Queen of Latin dance, who has bravely faced the stormy seas of online harassment and trolling. Her story is one that resonates with me, not just as a fellow woman in the public eye, but also as someone who has navigated my own share of criticism and adversity.

Shirley Ballas, a judge on Strictly, has openly expressed her dislike for holding the final decision as head judge. She yearns for her fellow panelists to reach a consensus so she doesn’t have to eliminate any contestant, and sometimes finds herself facing criticism when this isn’t the case.

As a die-hard fan, I find myself frequently in the hot seat, making the ultimate call when Shirley, Craig, Motsi, and Anton can’t seem to agree on a decision. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, as their collective wisdom and expertise make Strictly Come Dancing the phenomenal show it is today!

She confided in Radio Times, “Every weekend I find myself hoping fervently, ‘Oh dear Lord, my savior, may the others decide so the burden doesn’t fall on me.’

Instead of me, someone else must take on this task. I make an effort to bid them farewell with as much reassurance and warmth as possible. It’s hard for me not to shed a small tear when I watch them leave, because I’ve grown fond of them and have witnessed their progress.

In 2017, Shirley assumed the role of chief judge on the panel, taking over from the late Len Goodman. She expresses no intention of stepping down from her position.

I plan to continue dancing on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ until it’s time for me to retire. Since I’m so passionate about dancing, I will make sure to attend with the assistance of a walker.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but empathize with Shirley, who contemplated skipping the 2023 series due to the unbearable barrage of malicious vitriol from unsavory internet trolls.

However, even though she considered her role as the cherished cherry-on-top of her career, the hardship and distress caused by the abuse associated with it have proven incredibly challenging to manage.

Last year, she shared with The Sunday Times that she feels herself growing stronger with each passing year. However, she admitted that the online harassment (trolling) in the previous year had a significant impact on her – it was particularly intense and left her feeling overpowered.

As time passes, I feel myself growing stronger, but the online harassment from last year was particularly intense and harmful – it was a tough period, I believe I was simply overpowered by the situation.

This year, I have hired a young individual named Harry to manage my social media, and it has turned out to be simply wonderful.

By delegating the management of her social media accounts to another person, Shirley avoids personally reading the unfavorable comments.

From the age of 15 until she was 36, Shirley, hailing from Merseyside, pursued professional ballroom dancing as her career. Following this, she transitioned into the roles of both dance instructor and judge.

Messages on social media directed towards her, which were frequently menacing or explicit, made her feel so uneasy that she became apprehensive about going outdoors. This fear was compounded by the belief that potentially dangerous individuals could be lurking in shadows or concealed behind obstacles.

In October, I found myself featured on Olivia Attwood vs The Trolls. During that time, I encountered some disturbing messages. One such message was a drawing of a coffin with me inside, accompanied by someone holding a shovel and the words, “Die you b***h.” It’s important to note that such behavior is unacceptable and harmful.

When it pertains to matters concerning me and my loved ones, or impacts my psychological well-being, I find it deeply affecting, not merely limited to discussions about a mobile device.

Despite ultimately participating in the 2023 series, Shirley had briefly contemplated not returning due to the onslaught of offensive online comments she encountered during the previous season.

During a heartfelt conversation, she hinted that the recent series might be her final one. She confessed that the escalating abuse had left her at her lowest point in life.

The ballroom dancer shared that following each performance, she would often find herself weeping, and endured hardships in quiet solitude, describing it as the “greatest amount of negativity” she had ever experienced.

She shared with The Mirror: “Last year, I was going through a tough time. It wasn’t just a small issue; it was significant – most of it occurred without my speaking out. I felt the mistreatment escalated beyond control and had a profoundly negative effect on me. I’m generally a composed individual who keeps feelings to myself.

She shared that when the mistreatment started, it appeared overwhelmingly dominant in her life. The celebrity recounted how it made her weep and feel deeply emotional. Yet, she was ashamed of her feelings and chose not to disclose them to anyone.

Shirley added: ‘And that was an all-time low since I joined the show – it was the most negativity I’d ever experienced. The BBC were brilliant, checking in on me and offering counselling and support.’

When questioned about potentially leaving Strictly Come Dancing, she responded: “This season was challenging; let me leave it there. As for returning to Strictly Come Dancing, I prefer to focus on one thing at a time.

She continued by expressing her deep affection for her work, stating that if it were solely about making judgments without any negative comments, she would consider it the most fulfilling job she could imagine.

In simpler terms, the Queen of Latin announced that following the conclusion of Strictly in 2022, she intends to take a break from television to re-prioritize her professional commitments and safeguard her mental health.

She disclosed the startling magnitude of the messages she was sent, with approximately one out of every five being malicious. She stated that the multitude of remarks she received whenever she eliminated a contestant were indeed appalling.

She mentioned that allegations arose suggesting she didn’t have fondness for either the youth or the elderly, males or females. She pointed out that her actions wouldn’t make a difference, as she would always find herself in an unwinnable situation.

Instead, she openly declared that she remained firm with her choices, admitting to no regrets when it came to eliminating contestants following their performance during the dance-off. She added that she could comfortably rest knowing she made the right decisions.

At a point, the harassment became overwhelming, leading her to require medical attention for feelings of depression and anxiousness.

For the very first time during her more than five-decade-long career, she sought advice from her physician regarding methods to cope with the effects of the taunts she’s received.

On the episode of Strictly that aired on Sunday, there was no dance competition following Nigel Harman’s departure because of an injured rib.

Consequently, since there was no elimination during the 40-minute results program, many viewers labeled it as ‘meaningless’ and ‘dull’.

The latest edition of Radio Times is out now. 

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2024-11-26 05:04