![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-aea4.png\")
\n\t\tKaren Carney was defended by Strictly viewers after Motsi Mabuse\u2019s remarks (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tKaren Carney was defended by Strictly viewers after Motsi Mabuse\u2019s remarks (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> viewers have been left raging after comments made by Motsi Mabuse<\/a> in response to Karen Carney<\/a>\u2019s tango.<\/p>\n Last week, the former Lioness, 38, wowed everyone with her jive<\/a>, topping the leaderboard and, in turn, soaring up the betting odds to become one of the favourites to win<\/a> the whole series.<\/p>\n But this week, the feedback she received from the judges was more mixed.<\/p>\n Ahead of her performance to Training Season by Dua Lipa, rehearsal footage saw Karen open up about one of the challenges she\u2019s faced.<\/p>\n \u2018I have this thing called Scheuermann\u2019s, I\u2019ve had it since I was a kid. It\u2019s a curve in my spine,\u2019 she explained.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Strictly\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s really, really hard for me to open my back up.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018There are certain elements that I just won\u2019t be able to do as well as I\u2019d love to.\u2019<\/p>\n Admitting it hadn\u2019t been the easiest week, she praised her professional partner, Carlos Gu, for being \u2018really supportive and encouraging\u2019.<\/p>\n Scheuermann\u00a0kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann disease, is a skeletal disorder. It typically develops during adolescence, and those with the condition cannot consciously correct their posture. <\/p>\n It affects the vertebrae and rounds the upper back, creating a hunched appearance.<\/p>\n Therefore, when judge Motsi suggested that Karen\u2019s curved spine could be \u2018challenged\u2019, fans were quick to hit back, admitting how \u2018disgusted\u2019 they were at the remark.<\/p>\n \u2018First of all, thank you for sharing with us about your curved spine,\u2019 Motsi told Karen.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018It\u2019s going to be something that we have to challenge, to see how far we can really stretch and open up, because it\u2019s a ballroom dance, and there\u2019s a specific posture that we need.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018That being said, last week you were top of the leaderboard, and there was a bit of an ease in the way you attacked; this week, I could feel the nerves,\u2019 she also told her.<\/p>\n \u2018Think about breathing, think about loosening up, connecting to your partner, and really understanding the fundamentals.\u2019<\/p>\n While Karen was more than willing to take the feedback on board, it didn\u2019t take long for viewers at home to start venting on X, eager to remind Motsi that Karen\u2019s curved spine cannot simply be altered.<\/p>\n \u2018Quite disgusted that Karen opened up about having a condition that causes a curved spine and Motsi\u2019s reaction was to say they should \u201cchallenge\u201d it instead of accommodating it\u2019, @RachelCDailey wrote.<\/p>\n \u2018Did Motsi just suggest that Karen has to \u2018work\u2019 on her spine curvature\u2019, asked a bewildered @lindakimou.<\/p>\n \t\t @JaneGSafc added that it was \u2018beyond ridiculous\u2019 to criticise someone for \u2018something they cannot do anything about\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018Ngl disappointing to hear a judge saying that a spinal curvature needs to be challenged\u2019, agreed @WriterofQueen, to which @issywxx replied: \u2018As someone who\u2019s had spinal surgery for scoliosis I was trying to find some positive way to interpret it but I just can\u2019t\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018Motsi being a bit harsh and too personal with mentioning the curved spine and how it may affect her scoring.. its a medical condition. Hope she treats all other competitors with that same view point!\u2019, wrote @plug_in_baby_x.<\/p>\n Ultimately, Karen scored 20 points for her tango, which gets added to last week\u2019s points ahead of the first elimination tomorrow night.<\/p>\n As for the rest of her feedback from the judges, Craig Revel Horwood admitted he found the performance more Argentine tango than tango, and \u2018a little bit skippy\u2019 and \u2018awkward\u2019 in the under-arm turns.<\/p>\n \u2018But you were driving that, my darling, and you hit some really amazingly strong lines,\u2019 he complimented.<\/p>\n Karen then told host Claudia Winkleman that she\u2019s \u2018used to constructive criticism\u2019 in football, and she \u2018takes on board\u2019 what the judges have told her.<\/p>\n \u2018I want to be better and I tried my hardest, and that\u2019s all you can do in life.\u2019<\/p>\n Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Strictly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_268983094-d280.jpg\")
\n\t\tKaren admitted in training that it had been a \u2018challenging\u2019 week for her (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"Undated](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_266310706-f940.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe footie star has a condition called Scheuermann\u2019s, resulting in a curved spine (Picture: PA)<\/p>\n![\"Strictly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_268983425-d001.jpg\")
\n\t\tFans have criticised Motsi for telling Karen she could \u2018challenge\u2019 the curvature of her spine (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_268980562-bf6a.jpg\")
\n\t\tKaren danced a tango this week to a Dua Lipa anthem (Picture: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SEI_267974978-393d.jpg\")
\n\t\tKaren and her partner, Carlos Gu, topped the leaderboard with their jive last week (Picture: Guy Levy\/ BBC\/ PA Wire)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Chris Robshaw\u2019s wife shares regrets over her \u2018big mouth\u2019 after Strictly comment<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Strictly star Thomas Skinner\u2019s baby twins already land first Hollywood movie role<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Strictly Come Dancing recruits British Hollywood star as first ever guest mentor<\/a><\/p>\n