Motsi Mabuse, the sister of Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Oti Mabuse, has been appointed as Darcey Bussell’s replacement to join the judging panel.
Louie Spence has slammed the decision and branded the South African dance champion as a “nobody”.
The dancer, who rose to fame on Pineapple Dance Studios, believed Anton du Beke should have been the new judge and claimed the BBC simply wanted to “tick boxes” with Motsi.
Speaking about Motsi, Louie told the Mirror: “I don’t know her. She is a nobody. She isn’t a celebrity.
She is a nobody
Louie Spence
“I don’t understand why they wouldn’t put Anton there – everyone loves him as a pro dancer on the show – unless it was because they wanted another woman on the panel.
“Also, they’ve got somebody of colour, which is being diverse. They like to tick every box. I’m not saying she’s not credible, but maybe that’s why they chose her.”
He added: “There’s all the boxes that have to be ticked now, the box for the gay, the box for the lesbian, the box for the black, the box for Asian.”
BBC blasted Louis’ claims as “wrong and insulting”.
A BBC spokesperson told Express.co.uk a BBC spokesperson said: “Motsi got the job because she was the best candidate. Any suggestion to the contrary is completely wrong and insulting.”
Motsi is a former South African Champion and German Latin Champion in 2009 and 2010.
She has been a judge on Let’s Dance in Germany since 2011, after initially joining the show as a professional dancer in 2007.
Motsi said about the exciting news: “I am absolutely overjoyed to be joining the Strictly judging panel.
“I have so much respect and admiration for the other three judges and hope to add my own bit of sparkle to the show. I can’t wait to get started!”
Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, said: “Motsi is a brilliant addition to the show. She is a wonderful dancer in her own right and already has years of experience as a judge under her belt. We’re all looking forward to welcoming her to the Strictly family.”
Kate Phillips, Controller of Entertainment said: “We didn’t take finding Darcey’s replacement lightly. We spent many months talking to lots of talent from the dance world, but Motsi’s dance and judging credentials made her our first choice. She is hugely respected and will bring a fantastic combination of energy and expertise to Strictly, making her a dazzling addition to our brilliant judging panel.”
Darcey Bussell quit her role earlier this year after seven years on the panel.
At the time, the former ballerina said: “It has been a complete privilege for me to be part of Strictly for the past seven years, working with such a talented team.
“I have enjoyed every minute of my time and will miss everyone from my fellow judges, the presenters, the dancers, the musicians, the entire backstage team, and especially the viewers of the show, who have been so supportive.”
The professional dancer continued: “I am not leaving because of any upset or disagreement at all.”
She went on to say she was stepping down to focus on her other dance commitments.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One next month.
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