Shirley Ballas's low guest-judge scores on Dancing With The Stars divide US viewers
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas guest-judged Dancing With The Stars for the first time and gave fours where the permanent judges gave sevens and eights. Viewers split over whether she was harsh or simply honest.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas made her debut as a guest judge on the US show Dancing With The Stars during its Halloween episode, which the Daily Mirror dates to Tuesday 27 October. Daily MirrorL “Shirley Ballas made her Dancing With The Stars debut as a guest judge during their Halloween episode on Tuesday 27 October” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Her feedback and scoring were harsher than is usual on the show. Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa received sevens and an eight from the permanent judges but a four from Ballas, and Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik got three eights and then a four from her. Daily MirrorL “Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa received sevens and an eight from the permanent judges, but a four from Shirley.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “Ultimately, Tonioli awarded the actress an 8, while Hough and Inaba both gave 7s, and Ballas gave them a shocking 4.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 1On Stiles and Sosa's Argentine tango, Ballas said she saw little tracing on the floor, found the gauchos too slow and wanted sharper, controlled legs. The Daily Express reports that Bruno Tonioli called out her comments, and that Derek Hough described the dance as timid and careful. Daily ExpressR “She also added that she found the "gauchos too slow, not fast enough."” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily ExpressR “The criticism did come from Derek, who said the dance "felt just a little timid, a little careful, a little tiptoeing."” Read at Daily Express ↗
Left · 1The Mirror reports that some viewers were furious on social media and that some accused Ballas of bias, for example for giving one contestant an 8 and another a 4. Others defended her, arguing that she was judging correctly and that producers had given many contestants contemporary or jazz, which they said are easier to score highly. Daily MirrorL “Some fans were left outraged and took to social media to share their fury and shock.”“The problem is the producers giving half the people contemporary/jazz because there's a lot less to criticize” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Right · 1The Express columnist wrote that viewers seemed relieved by the low score and that an audible gasp came from the audience. They also wrote that Stiles's family stuck their tongues out at Ballas from the audience. Daily ExpressR “While Bruno Tonioli was taken aback by the comments, viewers seemed rather relieved.”“It was enough for Julia's family to mock Shirley from the audience, sticking their tongues out when she gave her score.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Left · 1Ballas told Good Morning America that fours, fives and sixes are "generally a good score" in her view and that she still gives out threes in week seven of Strictly. She said she had never liked "fluff". The Mirror says a reporter pointed out that only a couple of twos had been given across 35 seasons of the US show. Daily MirrorL “"To me, those scores are actually still quite good because they’re not twos and threes!"”“I am still giving out threes on week seven on Strictly, but it’s acceptable over there.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Right · 1Ballas had earlier told Prima magazine that judging the US show was a job she had always wanted and that she thought she could "probably be more strict" for a different audience. She said she was "100% not leaving Strictly". Her son Mark Ballas is a professional dancer on the US show. Daily ExpressR “I think I can probably be more strict. It's going to be very interesting. But I'm 100% not leaving Strictly!” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily ExpressR “Shirley’s son already lives in America, and works as a professional dancer on DWTS.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2The Express articles disagree on when the appearance happened. One says Ballas judged "last week" and that viewers must wait to see whether she will be as harsh at the Halloween special this weekend, while the Mirror and the other Express piece place the Halloween special in the week of publication. Daily ExpressR “whether Ballas will be this harsh for the Halloween special on home soil this weekend” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MirrorL “during their Halloween episode on Tuesday 27 October” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- The Daily Mirror treats the story as a viewer-reaction piece. It leads with 'furious' US fans and bias accusations, then gives the defenders and Ballas's own response.
- Emphasis
- Social media reactions on both sides, the contestants' surprise, and Ballas's Good Morning America comments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little detail on her technical critiques of the dance, and does not mention her Prima comments or her son's role on the show.
- Charged language
- “furious”“outraged”“chill down the contestants' spines”
- For example
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“some viewers were left 'furious' with her harsh scoring, and some even accusing her of having a bias” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Daily Express reports the scores as a 'shocking' low and 'fury', and runs an opinion column arguing that Ballas should leave Strictly for a permanent US role.
- Emphasis
- Her technical critique of the Argentine tango, the other judges' lenience, her Prima interview, and UK fan complaints of bias or sexism against her.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives less space to US viewers who defended her scoring, and does not include her Good Morning America defence of the scores.
- Charged language
- “Bombshell”“alarmingly low score”“failing Strictly”“coddled”
- For example
-
“I say go for it – become a permanent judge on DWTS and leave failing Strictly to its own devices.” — Daily Express
“Ballas gave them a shocking 4.” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Shirley Ballas guest-judged Dancing With The Stars for the first time at its Halloween special.
- She gave Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa a four, while the permanent judges gave sevens and an eight.
- Her scores and critiques were harsher than the show's usual judging.
Where accounts differ
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How viewers received her scoring
- Left
- The Mirror says some US viewers were furious and accused her of bias, while others defended her.
- Right
- The Express news piece says she has come under fire on both sides of the Atlantic, while its columnist says viewers seemed relieved and that this is what the show needs.
-
Whether her harshness is a fault
- Left
- Presents both views and quotes her saying the scores are 'still quite good'.
- Right
- The columnist argues the other judges are too soft and that Ballas should move to the US show permanently.
Shirley Ballas person
Ballas says fours to sixes are generally good scores, that she likes people to get knowledge rather than 'fluff', and that she is not leaving Strictly.
“Four, fives, and sixes to me is generally a good score.” — Daily Mirror
“But I'm 100% not leaving Strictly!” — Daily Express
Dancing with the Stars other
The show's permanent judges gave sevens and eights for the same dances. Coverage says producers' dance assignments were criticised, and that the other judges are seen as lenient.
“Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa received sevens and an eight from the permanent judges” — Daily Mirror
“Bruno and fellow judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough have been criticised for going too easy on the contestants.” — Daily Express
Left2 articles
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Shirley Ballas' Dancing With The Stars debut sparks controversy as US viewers 'furious'
Mixed Reaction piece that sets angry viewers against defenders and gives Ballas's reply.
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Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Daily ExpressR · · Opinion
Bombshell Shirley Ballas moment just proved exactly why she needs to leave Strictly
Celebratory Opinion column praising her honesty and urging her to leave Strictly for the US show.
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More Shirley Ballas fury as she gives 'alarmingly low score' in Strictly US debut
Critical Reports the low score as fury, with a detailed account of her critique and her Prima comments.
- 28 Oct 09:28 First Daily MirrorL Shirley Ballas' Dancing With The Stars debut sparks controversy as US viewers 'furious'
- 28 Oct 15:01 +5h 32m Daily ExpressR Bombshell Shirley Ballas moment just proved exactly why she needs to leave Strictly Opinion
- 28 Oct 15:05 +5h 36m Daily ExpressR More Shirley Ballas fury as she gives 'alarmingly low score' in Strictly US debut
- 28 Oct 15:45 +6h 16m The IndependentLC Strictly Come Dancing judge’s guest appearance on Dancing With the Stars leaves fans divided
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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