Strictly Come Dancing viewers have criticised judge Craig Revel Horwood for his 'cruel' reaction to TikTok star George Clarke's emotional rumba, dedicated to his mother who has cancer. The 25-year-old performed with partner Alexis Warr, also 25, to Lily Allen's piano version of Somewhere Only We Know, a song played at his grandfather's funeral.
While fellow judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke praised the performance, Horwood, 60, said it 'wasn't a rumba' and that 'technically it was not great'. The audience booed his comments, and fans on social media accused him of being 'spiteful' and failing to 'read the room'.
George and Alexis scored 29 points, including a six from Horwood, placing them third from bottom on the leaderboard. In a video before the dance, George revealed his mother was diagnosed with encephalitis when he was 16 and recently with cancer, saying: 'Nobody deserves what she's gone through... to give her this is special.'
After the show, George wrote on X: 'Aware that wasn't the most technically gifted dance... BUT I am so unbelievably happy we got the opportunity to do that and tell a story.' He added: 'Your votes would be much appreciated.'
