Fans React to Controversial Elimination on Strictly Come Dancing

Viewers of the popular dance competition Strictly Come Dancing expressed outrage following the results of the semi-final on December 13, 2023. The elimination of contestant Balvinder Sopal has sparked accusations of unfairness, with fans claiming the results were “fixed” in favor of other contestants, particularly Amber Davies.

During the semi-final, four celebrity pairs performed two routines each. The leaderboard ranked Karen Carney and Carlos Gu in first place with a total of 78 points, followed closely by Amber and Nikita Kuzmin, who scored 77 points. George Clarke and Alexis Warr earned 72 points for third place, while Balvinder and Julian Caillon finished fourth with a score of 70 points, according to Wales Online.

The results of the public vote placed Balvinder and Amber in the bottom two, leading to a dance-off. Following their performances, the judges opted to save Amber and Nikita, eliminating Balvinder from the competition. This decision was met with significant backlash from viewers on social media, many of whom felt that Balvinder’s journey as a non-dancer had been unjustly cut short.

One viewer expressed their frustration on X, previously known as Twitter, stating, “Poor Bal didn’t stand a chance up against Amber doing couples’ choice – basically a West End routine… Total fix. #StrictlyComeDancing.” Another fan echoed this sentiment, highlighting Balvinder’s transformation from a novice dancer to a strong competitor, while questioning the fairness of Amber’s advancement.

Emotional reactions poured in from fans who expressed their heartbreak over Balvinder’s exit. Comments ranged from, “I’m bawling. I’m gonna miss them so much,” to sentiments regarding the touching farewell between Balvinder and Julian, which resonated deeply with the audience.

In light of these developments, the anticipation builds for the Strictly Come Dancing final set to air on December 20, 2023. The remaining couples, including Amber and Nikita, George and Alexis, and Karen and Carlos, will compete for the coveted glitterball trophy. Fans are eager to see how this controversy may influence the final performances and voting.

Strictly Come Dancing continues to be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, allowing fans to relive the dramatic moments leading up to the finale.