Shirley Ballas has become the target of online bullies since replacing Len Goodman as head judge on Strictly Come Dancing after his 13-year stint.
The ballroom champion, who recently came under fire from critics for her no-nonsense comments, constantly receives vitriolic abuse from trolls calling her ‘b****y’, ‘useless’ and ‘a cow’.
The 57-year-old said that while she appreciates the fans who support her, she has been left shocked at the ‘inappropriate’ and ‘mean’ response over her comments to the celebrity dancers.
‘Some can be mean – so I just block them,’ Ballas told theDaily Star Sunday.
‘If they’re awfully mean, that’s what I do. Some people are inappropriate. I don’t want to say what they say. I won’t go there. But some people are just inappropriate.’
Shirley Ballas has been left shocked over ‘mean’ comments from online trolls but refuses to quit Twitter
Strictly fans haven’t taken kindly to Shirley as the new head judge, and regularly send her abuse about her comments to the celebrity dancers
While many of her fans encourage the judge to ‘ignore’ the abuse, a defiant Shirley often tackles her Twitter trolls head on by replying to them directly.
One viewer fumed: ‘Ballas is such a rude, opinionated women, time she was gone, adds nothing to the [programme].’
The judge responded: ‘Sorry you feel that Hilly. Onwards and upwards @bbcstrictly.’
Other commenters have continuously taunted the judge, with one saying: ‘Shirley Ballas is a bit of a cow isn’t she? You don’t need Len’s Lens to see she is not likeable at all.’
‘Strictly has not exactly sparkled this year. Shirley Ballas though, what a nasty, catty, b****y old cow. Any chance of voting her off?’ said another.
Shirley, who explained she hadn’t been on social media until joining the BBC dancing competition, admits she likes to receive criticism but only if it’s constructive.
Shirley has her own way of tackling the trolls online, often responding to the abuse with her own positive comments
She is refusing to let the trolls get the better of her and has said she will not quit social media because she wants to stay in touch with the viewers of the show.
‘People make an effort to watch the show and then go online. So I like to respond in some way.’
It comes after Shirley ended up at the centre of a barrage of fan criticism for scolding host Claudia Winkleman for ‘slouching’ during a Sunday’s results show.
She had been discussing Alexandra Burke’s core strength when she made the comment about the presenter slouching – leading fans to brand her as ‘rude’ and ‘patronising’ on Twitter.
Awkward: The 57-year-old had been discussing Alexandra Burke’s core when she made the comment about the presenter’s posture – leading fans to brand her as ‘rude’ and ‘patronising’
Awkward: Shirley caused a stir among Strictly fans on Sunday night, after she scolded host Claudia Winkleman (R) for ‘slouching’ during the results show