Shirley Ballas Auditions for DWTS Panel with 'Brutal' Judging

Shirley Ballas has put herself forward for a permanent position on the "Dancing With The Stars" (DWTS) judging panel, following a well-received guest appearance where her "brutal" scoring garnered praise from U.S. viewers. Ballas, known as the Queen of Latin, brought her stringent judging style, a hallmark of her role on the UK's "Strictly Come Dancing," to the American version of the show.

During her debut, Ballas awarded actress Julia Stiles a score of just four for her Argentine Tango, a decision that surprised even fellow judge Bruno Tonioli. This marked a strong opening for the 66-year-old dancer, who has previously expressed a desire to appear on DWTS, calling it her "dream" opportunity. Despite landing this guest role, Ballas has reiterated that she is "100% not leaving Strictly," refuting reports that all four of its judges are considering departures.

Ballas also faced the challenge of judging her own son, Mark, who is partnered with Maura Higgins. She maintained her impartiality, scoring them lower than the other judges.

Viewers took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to express their approval of Ballas's unsparing critiques. Comments included "SHIRLEY BALLAS GAVE A 4 TO JULIA AND EZRA;" "Okay I already think Shirley Ballas should be a permanent judge;" and "Shirley Ballas giving a 4 on the first dance, oh mother did NOT come to play." Many noted her "scary" demeanor and how it prompted more rigorous critiques from other judges, with one user observing, "Ms Shirley is scaryyyyy she even got Derek actually critiquing."

The episode, which was Halloween Night, also saw a double elimination, with contestants Tyler Cameron and Jackson Olsen being removed from the competition.

Ballas's participation in DWTS comes as speculation surrounds the future of the "Strictly Come Dancing" judging panel. Her co-stars Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke also have contracts ending this year, with reports suggesting that any of them could depart. Insiders have indicated that pay disputes, stemming from a 2023 request for an 11% raise that was reportedly met with resistance due to BBC budget cuts, may influence their decisions.

Ballas's tenure on the "Strictly" panel has not been without controversy. She has faced accusations of favoritism, bullying, and harsh scoring. Earlier in the year, she reportedly faced disciplinary action from BBC executives for violating editorial guidelines by recreating "Strictly" elements for a paid MSC Cruises voyage without authorization.