STRICTLY fans have lashed out at the judges for their comments tonight after Karen Carney revealed a secret health condition.
The former England Lioness, 38, unexpectedly rocketed to the top of the leaderboard with a jaw-dropping jive last Saturday.
Strictly’s fans lashed out at the judges after Karen Carney’s tango[/caption]
BBC viewers weren’t happy with Motsi Mabuse’s feedback for Karen[/caption]
Karen and pro dancer Carlos Gu returned this week with a tango.
In her VT video, Karen opened up about an ongoing health battle called Scheuermann’s disease.
The condition affects the spine where vertebrae grow in a wedged shape, causing a hunchback or increased forward curve, usually in the chest region.
Karen shared on Saturday night: “I have this thing called Scheuermann’s.
“I’ve had it since I was a kid, it’s a curve in my spine.
“It’s really, really hard for me to open my back up.
“There’s certain elements that I just won’t be able to do as I’d love to, but Carlos is really supportive, really encouraging.”
Following her dance, the judges gave their feedback but fans were left unimpressed by some of their comments.
Motsi Mabuse thanked Karen for sharing her health battle with viewers and went on to say: “It’s going to be something that we have to challenge to see how far we can really stretch and open up because it’s a ballroom dance and there’s a specific posture that we need.
“That being said, last week you were top of the leaderboard and there was a bit of ease in the way you attacked, this week I could feel the nerves.
“But there was a slight jitterbug with everything that you did. I think you kind of have to think about breathing and loosening up.”
While Anton Du Beke told her she should open herself as he demonstrated with Shirley Ballas.
“Just open your body ever so slightly, you bring so much, your timing and cleanness of your dance,” he said.
Some viewers weren’t too happy with the critique, with one writing: “So Karen says she has a curved spine and Motsi says she needs to stretch it out. What is the woman on? Criticising someone for something they cannot do anything about is beyond ridiculous. They’ll make allowances for Ellie though.”
A second said: “They’re gonna moan about her frame and her singing along.”
A third commented: “This spine issue could hinder Karen throughout the entire series. That said, I enjoyed it.”
Karen ended scoring a respectable 20 points for her tango tonight.
The Sun revealed last week that Karen took part in dancing contests as a child — and believes it made her an even better footballer.
Viewers branded her the ultimate underdog while bookies feared it could be the biggest upset for years, with her odds of winning tumbling from 16/1 to 5/1.
But the player-turned-TV pundit revealed in an old interview with the FA that she trained in dance before seriously getting into football.
The West Midlander said: “I enjoyed football when I was a kid and had loads of kickabouts but I didn’t join my first club until I was 11. Until then, it was all about dancing for me.
“We did loads of different routines and genres of music; street dancing, hip-hop, disco, rock ’n’ roll, slow dancing, team dances.”
She revealed that she trained in dance for up to three hours every Saturday then competed in “big events” on a Sunday.
Karen, who would go on to win 144 caps with England, recalled: “When I got a bit older and my football matches switched to a Sunday, I had some choices to make.
“I decided to give up dancing when I was 15.
“My agility, my strength, my power and how I move my feet during a match are all definitely down to dancing, 100 per cent.
“I was quite little but I was quite strong and that was because all the dancing made my muscles stronger.”
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup
Strictly Come Dancing news and the latest line up
- Nitro from Gladiators will be showing off his dance moves on this year’s show.
- Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston has signed up.
- Chris Robshaw, former Harlequins and England rugby captain.
- Eastenders actress Suki Panesar, has moved from Walford to the ballroom.
- Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has been confirmed.
- George Clarke, a YouTube star, joins Strictly.
- Dani Dyer pulled out with injury and has been replaced by Love Island winner Amber Davies.
- La Voix is the first drag star to join the main series
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink swaps is football boots for dancing shoes.
- Ellie Goldstein became the first contestant with Down’s Syndrome to take part.
- Thomas Skinner is swapping the boardroom for ballroom dancing
- I’m a Celeb winner Vicky Pattison has been announced.
- Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope was announced as the last contestant.
- Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn pulled out of the show before the launch date over medical reasons.
