Strictly Come Dancing has been rocked with fresh race row claims as fans slam the show’s voting results were ‘outrageous’.
Sunday’s result show saw Fleur East and Richie Anderson voted into the dance off, with Radio 2 star Richie becoming the second celebrity to leave the BBC show.
BBC viewers took to Twitter, claiming the decision made by the British public was ‘racist’.
Tension: Strictly Come Dancing has been rocked with fresh race row claims as fans slam the show’s voting results were ‘outrageous’
The judges were surprised to see Fleur, who finished sixth on the leaderboard with her partner Vito Coppola, and Richie who together with Giovanni Pernice finished eighth, in the bottom two.
One viewer penned: ‘Neither of those couples should have been anywhere NEAR the bottom two, but of course the British public are racist.’
Another wrote: ‘Good dancers voted out early every season due to racist voting,’ another chimed in while a third said: ‘Racism 100%, there’s no other explanation. It’s obvious.’
Shocking: Sunday’s result show saw Fleur East and Richie Anderson voted into the dance off, with Radio 2 star Richie becoming the second celebrity to leave the BBC show
‘Motsi knows that the British public are racist, and got as close as she could to saying it outright,’ a third said.
One added: ‘So depressed by the bottom two in the dance-off last night on Strictly. No WAY should it have been Fleur or Richie. I’ve said it for years and I’ll say it again: it is 100% racism (whether conscious or subconscious) driving the British public’s votes.’
Richie and Fleur were in the middle of the leaderboard before the public vote, which saw them land the bottom two.
Slammed: BBC viewers took to Twitter, claiming the decision made by the British public was ‘racist’
After both couples performed again, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse all voted to save Fleur, sending Richie home.
Richie and Giovanni performed their Samba to Hakuna Matata from The Lion King after previously opening Saturday night’s Movie Week with the fun routine.
Then Fleur and her dance partner Vito performed their American Smooth to Part Of Your World from The Little Mermaid, in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts. Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Fleur and Vito, telling the couples: ‘I would like to save the most accomplished technician and that is Fleur and Vito.’
Motsi Mabuse chose to save Fleur and Vito, admitting: ‘I think it’s heartbreaking actually because I think both of you do not deserve to be here but this is how the public voted and based on this dance off I’m going to save Fleur and Vito
Anton Du Beke then also chose to save Fleur and Vito, as he told Fleur and Richie ‘Well I thought that was a well danced dance off. I thought both couples performed well, I thought one couple was a bit more sure footed about their performance and had a slightly better level of artistry about what they were doing, so the couple I would like to save is Fleur and Vito.’
With three votes to Fleur and Vito, it meant they had won the majority vote and would be staying in the competition regardless, however Head Judge Shirley Ballas said she would have decided to save Richie and Giovanni.
When asked by Tess about their time on the show, an emotional Richie said: ‘Do you know what? As a Strictly fan I always thought it was a magical thing to be a part of, and being here it really is and it’s not just the people that you see on camera, the judges, and you and Claud and the amazing people that I’ve got to meet on this show.’
Lively: Richie and Giovanni performed their Samba to Hakuna Matata from The Lion King after previously opening Saturday night’s Movie Week with the fun routine
‘The people behind the scenes in hair, make up, costume, Tasha our runner, Stef, Jas, everybody. I also want to thank this guy [Giovanni] as well, he’s been so amazing, and I feel so lucky that I’ve got to dance with you every day.’
‘Not only are you a fantastic dancer but you are also a fantastic guy on top of that. I want to thank all my family and friends and my other half Dean who is in the audience, I love you so much.’
Giovanni was then asked if he had any words for his partner, Richie and said: ‘I have to say it’s been an honour to be able to dance with you because I know how much you love Strictly Come Dancing, you really are a superfan.’
‘And I’m glad that you got to do this experience and glad that I got to do it with you. It’s been a shame it’s been too short for us but I hope you’ve enjoyed every single second of it, and it stays in your heart forever. Look at us we’ve gone out dressed as Timon and Pumbaa. So lovely jubbly, well done Richie.’
The remaining thirteen couples will take to the dancefloor next when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 15th October at 6.30pm with the results show on Sunday 16th October at 7:15pm on BBC One.
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