Shirley Ballas Defends Harsh Scores After Shaking Up 'Dancing with the Stars' Panel

Renowned British dance adjudicator Shirley Ballas sparked intense debate on Tuesday night during her guest appearance on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," issuing some of the lowest scores seen this late in the competition in the franchise's history. Sitting on the panel alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough for the season's Horror Movie Night, the "Strictly Come Dancing" head judge stunned the ballroom by handing out scores of four to two different couples in Week 7 of the competition.

Ballas awarded a four to actress Julia Stiles and professional partner Ezra Sosa for their Argentine tango inspired by "The Omen," criticizing Stiles for slow leg actions and improper posture. Fellow judges had scored the routine significantly higher, with Inaba and Hough offering sevens and Tonioli an eight. Ballas leveled another four at Tatyana Ali and pro Jan Ravnik, arguing their paso doble lacked sufficient dance content despite receiving sevens and an eight from the regular panel. She also issued a score of five to Tyler Cameron and pro Sharna Burgess, who received sevens from the other three judges.

A score of four is virtually unheard of at this stage of the competition, marking the lowest score given in the seventh week across 35 seasons of the series. Following the broadcast, Ballas defended her evaluations, telling ABC's "On the Red Carpet" that her scoring philosophy differs from the American panel's norms. "Four, fives, and sixes to me is generally a good score," Ballas stated. "You're on a good track. And then, when you get to sevens, eights, and nines, you've really mastered your craft." She noted that in the United Kingdom, such scores remain common by week seven, adding, "I've never been a great person of fluff, which is, 'You're all great.' I like people to get some knowledge."

Speaking to "Good Morning America," Ballas emphasized that her critiques were meant to give participants room to grow rather than discourage them. "If you are giving out 10s every week, where are they going to grow to?" Ballas explained, adding that she aims to offer hope and an accurate assessment based on her experienced eye. Ballas, who serves as president of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, also pointed out that while audiences in the United States may be unaccustomed to seeing the four paddle, her critiques came "from a good heart."

Despite her strict reputation, Ballas did not withhold top marks for standout routines. She awarded a 10 to actor Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson for their contemporary routine inspired by "Saw," which earned the season's first perfect score of 40 and placed the duo atop the leaderboard. When evaluating her son, pro dancer Mark Ballas, and his celebrity partner Maura Higgins, Shirley Ballas demonstrated no favoritism, awarding them a seven for their "Lost Boys" contemporary piece while other judges gave eights and a nine.

The episode concluded with a double elimination based on combined scores and viewer votes from Dedication Night and Horror Movie Night. Despite the low individual scores from Ballas, both Stiles and Ali were saved by fan votes. Instead, Cameron and Burgess were eliminated alongside Jackson Olson and Emma Slater. The broadcast also featured the return of professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, who reunited with partner Jenna Dewan after serving a one-week suspension related to deleted remarks concerning Inaba's prior critiques.

Viewer reactions to Ballas's debut on the U.S. flagship show were split, with some social media commentators applauding her technical rigor and urging producers to make her a permanent fixture, while others criticized the stark divergence from the remaining panel. Ballas previously told Prima magazine that judging the U.S. program was a long-held ambition on her "wish list," but firmly dismissed rumors regarding a departure from the BBC, insisting she is "100 per cent not leaving Strictly." "Dancing with the Stars" will return for Disney Night on Monday, November 2, with Cynthia Erivo serving as guest judge.