Anton du Beke defends Shayne Ward amid dance backlash
- Shayne Ward faced criticism for being perceived as overconfident after his first performance on Strictly Come Dancing.
- In his second performance, he and partner Nancy Xu performed a tango, receiving a score of 31 from the judges.
- Shayne addressed the backlash on Instagram, clarifying that he was nervous rather than cocky, while his partner defended him.
Following his first performance on Strictly Come Dancing, Shayne Ward faced backlash from viewers who labeled him as 'overconfident' and 'cocky.' This criticism arose after his initial dance with partner Nancy Xu, which prompted judge Anton du Beke to offer constructive feedback during their second performance. On Saturday night, Shayne and Nancy performed a tango to 'The Door' by Teddy Swims, earning a score of 31, a significant improvement from the previous week. Anton emphasized the importance of focusing on the dance itself rather than personal confidence, urging Shayne to immerse himself in the performance. In response to the negative comments, Shayne took to Instagram to express his feelings, stating that he was nervous rather than cocky. His partner Nancy also defended him, highlighting the challenges of the samba dance and the pressure of performing in front of millions. The situation illustrates the intense scrutiny contestants face on reality television, where public perception can greatly impact their experience and performance.