Shirley Ballas, the 63-year-old head judge of Strictly Come Dancing, has revealed she has employed a social media manager to shield herself from the 'overwhelming' amount of online abuse she has received. The dancer, who joined the show in 2017, considered not returning for the 2023 series after facing a torrent of hateful messages, including death threats and sexual comments.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Ballas said: 'This is my seventh series as head judge. I think I'm getting stronger as the years go by but the trolling got to me last year: it was bad. I think I was just overwhelmed.' She added that her new assistant, Harry, manages her social media accounts, preventing her from seeing negative comments.
The abuse, which she described as 'truly awful', left her fearing for her safety and seeking medical help for low mood and anxiety. Speaking on Olivia Attwood vs The Trolls in October, she recounted receiving images of coffins with her name on them and threats such as 'Die you b**ch'. She said: 'It's when it is personal about myself and my family and it affects my mental health.'
Ballas, who took a break from TV after the 2022 series to 'protect her sanity', admitted she hit an 'all-time low' during that period. She told the Mirror: 'Last year I was struggling. It wasn't just a little bit, it was a lot – the majority of it was in silence. I felt the abuse snowballed out of control and impacted me in such a negative way.'
Despite the difficulties, Ballas returned for the current series and praised the BBC for offering counselling and support. She said she 'absolutely loved' her job and would not hesitate to continue if not for the trolling. However, she remains cautious about her future on the show, stating: 'I always take one step at a time.'
