Strictly viewers slam ‘cruel’ comments about star’s emotional dance honouring mum with cancer

Strictly Come Dancing viewers were up in arms this weekend after one judge seriously brought the tone down with his feedback on an emotional dance.

Tonight saw TikTok star George Clarke, 25, perform a moving rumba with his partner, newcomer Alexis Warr, also 25.

The elegant routine was dedicated to George’s family, specifically his mum, who has cancer, and the song he chose – Lily Allen’s piano version of Somewhere Only We Know – meant a great deal, given how it was played at his grandfather’s funeral.

And there wasn’t a dry eye in the studio after George’s performance, which earned high praise from Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.

However, when it came to Craig Revel Horwood, he did not hold back with his comments, despite George’s vulnerable disposition.

As a result, fans of the influencer and other Strictly viewers have slammed Craig as ‘cruel’ and implored him to ‘read the room’ before dishing out criticism.

Drowned out by boos from the studio, Craig, 60, who was the last judge to share his reaction, began: ‘Actually, it wasn’t a rumba. So for me, it was difficult to judge.’

‘Admittedly, the story was absolutely magnificent. You told that beautifully, so achieved that, so you will win the audience votes with this,’ he praised lightly.

‘But unfortunately, you won’t win my vote.’

‘It just technically was not great,’ he concluded, telling the couple it was a more ‘contemporary’ piece.

In contrast, the other judges lauded George, with Anton saying he ‘loved’ his storytelling and the likes of Motsi complimenting: ‘As a feeling, and the emotions behind the dance, this was really very, very beautiful.’

Ultimately, George and Alexis scored 29 points, which included a six from Craig, placing them third to bottom on the leaderboard of eight couples.

Taking to social media after his tearful performance, fans were keen to wrap virtual arms around George and make it clear what they thought of Craig’s delivery.

‘I agree with Craig to some extent, it was more contemporary than rumba but there are ways of giving feedback without absolutely s****ing on a dance’, blasted @lucymaygoodwin.

‘“you won’t get my vote” craig says about a dance dedicated to not only george’s late grandad but ALSO his mum with cancer…read the room craig’, raged @pinkhillss.

‘sorry but the way craig spoke to george was highly unfair and honestly rather spiteful. you can’t critique the choreo when he has zero control over that??? get off your high horse for once’, echoed @missedagainn.

Picking up on one of Craig’s remarks, @molly_oliviak wrote: ‘did not like craig’s comment about how the story will win george votes, everybody wants to get through but he did that for his family not for the public and it felt like quite a rude and massively unnecessary comment to make when the subject matter is so sensitive’.

Others declared that it was ‘criminal’ for Craig to score the pair a six, while @ceceswifts said his feedback was ‘patronising, bitter, and spiteful’.

There was, however, a group defending Craig, the show’s longest-serving judge, praising him for ‘telling the truth’ and explaining that, despite being a ‘beautiful’ dance, George’s number ‘wasn’t a rumba’.

Ahead of his dance, George said in a video that his mother had been diagnosed with a brain inflammation condition called encephalitis when he was 16, adding: ‘Unfortunately, recently, she got diagnosed with cancer; nobody deserves what she’s gone through… There’s not a lot I can do to help, so to give her this is special.’

Following his dance, which his sobbing parents watched from the audience, the podcaster told host Claudia Winkleman: ‘You can tell your family you love them as much as you want, but it’s very rare to be able to have an opportunity to give them something. So that’s kind of what I wanted to do.’

Irrespective of Craig’s negative feedback this week, the internet personality is continuing to take the whole Strictly experience in his stride.

Leaping onto X after filming, he penned to his 94,000 followers: ‘Aware that wasn’t the most technically gifted dance we’ve done (nor was it anywhere the best we performed it, was slightly overwhelmed haha) BUT I am so unbelievably happy we got the opportunity to do that and tell a story.’

He added sweetly: ‘Your votes would be much appreciated but since the start of the show that’s the main thing I wanted to do so even being able to show you that is enough. Love you all x’.

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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