We have this handful of misogynistic people, says Shirley Ballas as she’s on the verge of exposing ballroom ‘bullies’
STRICTLY head judge Shirley Ballas says she is on the verge of exposing ballroom “bullies”.
The 63-year-old believes attitudes towards women have not improved in the industry from when she started in 1967.
She said: “I don’t know how people get away with it until it becomes ‘name and shame’ and I am pretty much close to doing that I’ll tell you.”
Asked if there is misogyny in the dance industry, she said: “Yes for sure, 100 per cent for sure and I don’t think it is much better today. I still think that bullying goes on.
“There are a lot of great people in my industry, there are a lot of people who want to see people do extremely well and I think we have this handful of misogynistic people with egos that just will not deflate.”
Shirley, known as the Queen of Latin, retired from competitive dancing in 1996 before becoming a leading coach.
And she recalled being targeted by bullies just before landing the Strictly job in 2017.
Shirley says on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs today: “I was going through immense bullying in the industry from men at the top. I will just go as far as that.
“They were stopping my work. I was like an elite teacher.
“I was teaching the top couples in the world and then there were threats going to certain couples saying, ‘There are nine of us and one of her.
“If you train with her we are going to make sure you don’t make it in the industry.’”
She said it made her more determined, adding: “You know who you are and everybody in my industry knows who they are.
“Thank you to the bullies because you gave me a platform and a job which I sincerely love and adore.”
Shirley has previously spoken out about the abuse she receives on social media, and had to hire an assistant who filters hateful messages.