STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has been blasted by fans — who claim she is sexist.
The dance veteran has been accused of preferring male celebrity dancers to women on the hit BBC1 show.
Fans went into meltdown after Sunday night’s show during which she once again backed a man over his “skilled” female rival, critics say.
Singer Fleur East, 34, and pro partner Vito Coppola, 30, survived the dance off, but Shirley said she would have booted them out in favour of Radio 2’s Richie Anderson, 34, who performed a Samba dressed as a meerkat.
Viewers raged on social media, accusing the head judge, 62, of bias and calling for her to go.
It was claimed she was unable to “celebrate the young, female celebrities” and “felt threatened by” and was “overly critical” of attractive women dancers.
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One viewer fumed on Twitter: “Sexist Shirley would rather save men darting around in animal costumes than the technically-skilled and beautiful dancer Fleur?”
Teacher Lizzie Man Neon blasted: “Shirley Ballas should be removed from the panel. She’s setting a bad example. Her views are outdated and sexist. Please let this be her last year, or preferably week.”
More than a thousand people liked the comment.
Twitter user Elaine Harvey added: “Shirley seems to have completely lost the plot this season. She is downright rude, sexist and blatantly has her favourites.”
Poster Susan Young said: “The way Shirley speaks to women is unacceptable. She clearly has an issue with young attractive women.”
Shirley was also criticised for being harsh on comedian Ellie Taylor, 38, during Saturday’s Movie Week show.
Host Tess Daley, 53, jumped to Ellie’s defence when the judge told her: “From today I’m not accepting any heel leads. That goes for everybody because you have a choice and you have been told.”
Tess told Shirley she was being “very strict”, prompting fellow judge Anton Du Beke, 56, to say: “If it’s any consolation, I feel like I’ve been a bit told off myself.”
Pro-dancer Nikita Kuzmin, 24, also seemed confused amid “conflicting” comments to his partner swimmer Ellie Simmonds, 27, who was also criticised for heel work, but scored a seven from Shirley.
Fans were already critical of Shirley’s response to Ellie after she gave her just five points in week two, compared to ex-footie star Tony Adams’ six points for his Charleston.
It is not the first time Shirley has faced backlash over favouritism.
Last year, actor Greg Wise, 56, was axed in favour of comedian Judi Love, 42, before Shirley was able to vote.
But she said she would have chosen Sense and Sensibility star Greg, provoking social media fury.
In December 2019 she was again accused of sexism after voting for comedian Chris Ramsey, 36, over footballer Alex Scott, 37, in an elimination.
It came after she also kicked out ex-Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley, 39, and her partner Johannes Radebe, 35, in favour of BBC Breakfast star Mike Bushell, 56.
Shirley also raised eyebrows with some of her comments about male contestants.
She told Two Pints of Lager star Will Mellor, 46, that he was “easy on the eye”.
And in 2019 she told Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher, 38: “You sent my temperature through the roof.”
The Sun’s scoreboard analysis reveals Shirley’s voting sits mostly in line with other judges.
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TV presenter Molly Rainford, 21, has been the best performing female this year, with Shirley consistently giving her among the biggest scores.
The Sun asked Shirley’s representatives for comment.
