Shirley Ballas infuriates Hollywood legend’s fans after ‘diabolical’ live TV moment

| Senior TV Reporter Published October 28, 2026 10:32am Updated October 28, 2026 10:32am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Shirley Ballas drew gasps from the audience as she swapped in Strictly Come Dancing for Dancing With The Stars across the pond and had some sage advice for one contestant. The 66-year-old appeared as a guest judge on the US spin-off of the ballroom dancing show and lent a sharp eye to the routines. First up was season favourite Julia Stiles, who last week dedicated a moving performance to her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger. The routine earned rave reviews last week, but Ballas scored Stiles and professional partner Ezra Sosa their first four of the series for their spooky Halloween-themed routine. Reacting to their tango to The Omen, Ballas said: ‘First of all, I thought the conversation between the two of you was quite nice. But generally, overall, I didn’t find that there was much tracing on the floor.’ Get personalised updates on Strictly Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Getting into the technicalities, she added: ‘I need sharper, controlled legs. Also posturally, it wasn’t quite in the right place for Argentine tango for me. But a good start.’ Shirley Ballas swapped in Strictly Come Dancing for Dancing With The Stars (Picture: ABC) The score from Ballas drew gasps from the ballroom audience (Picture: ABC) Bruno Tonioli, who ditched Strictly in favour of the US offshoot, joked: ‘Wow, excuse me,’ before he praised Stiles as a ‘mistress of seduction’. He went on to give Stiles the highest score of her night, an eight, while Ballas handed out a four that drew gasps in the ballroom. After the show, Ballas was quizzed on her decision to get out the four paddle for the first time on this Dancing With The Stars series. The veteran dance star referenced Strictly as she told Good Morning America: ‘I always believe whatever is in my heart, I have to put forward. There’s always a place for somebody to grow. ‘If you’re giving out tens every week, where are they going to grow to? I like to give them hope and give them a good understanding about the level, to my experienced eye, about where they’re at. I’m not very good at doing fluff. It’s very straight down the line. ‘A four for me is a great score. When they get a four or a five in England, they’re like, “Yay!” I have to sleep with myself at the end of the day so I always try to do things fair.’ Bruno Tonioli ditched Strictly in favour of the US offshoot and joked, ‘Wow, excuse me,’ about Ballas’s comments (Picture: ABC) The strict scoring in comparison to her generous peers on the panel left some Stiles fans riled up and rushing to her Instagram comments section to denounce the ‘insane’ marking. Underneath a post of her and Sosa’s spooky fits, Julie said the four had been ‘kinda mean’ and sent her well wishes, while fellow fan Jaimie wrote: ‘That 4 was undeserved and diabolical.’ Having voted for Stiles to stay in, fellow stan Jennifer lent on the exclamation mark button and wrote: ‘While I agree that you were a bit nervous and stiff in comparison to the past two weeks, you were absolutely amazing!!! ‘You challenged yourself, and you brought it!!! Ezra’s choreography is fabulous!!! That 4 score was so unjustified!!!’ But many fans agreed with Ballas’ thoughts on the inflated scoring practices on the show, with many calling for the Strictly lynchpin to join the US spin-off full time. Writing in the feverish comments section on Ballas’ own Instagram posts from the night, Evan Roberts said they were in agreement with her, while Olivia wrote: ‘They need to bring her back as a permanent judge. We need her!’ Kristie took a swipe at the rest of the DWTS judging panel, writing: ‘Maybe if the judges weren’t so soft from the start they wouldn’t be shocked by Shirley’s scores. We need this strict behaviour!!!! It makes people better!!!’ Deals of the Day The wellbeing brand behind everyone's favourite candles has launched its biggest sale yet See London's Christmas lights from an open-top double-decker bus this winter My skin always suffers when the heating goes on but this serum changed that The skincare formula that finally took the guesswork out of my routine Families can save up to 20% on summer 2027 holidays in Club Med's four-day sale Arrow MORE: The best Christmas advert of all time has just landed thanks to the Muppets Arrow MORE: Strictly Come Dancing eliminates fourth couple and reveals major twist in first for show Arrow MORE: Young Sheldon actress addresses ‘uncomfortable’ age gap with co-star: ‘He was a baby’ TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.