Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has come under fire from a number of the show’s fandom following her comments to Karen Carney during Saturday’s show.

After topping the leaderboard last weekend with her Jive, Ms Carney and her pro partner Carlo Gu were hoping to replicate that success with their Week Two Tango.

However, before stepping onto the dancefloor, a VT of Ms Carney’s preparations played for viewers, where she explained why this week was proving trickier than the Jive.

“Saturday was sensational,” Ms Carney began to viewers. “I don’t think I’ve seen myself so happy since I played. Look, I get emotional.”

BBC Strictly: Karen Carney shared a health condition she’s been battling with in the ballroom

Mr Gu then weighed in: “The Tango is a fierce dance. Every movement has to be powerful, and the frame needs to be strong.”

After footage of the two struggling to nail the moves played, Ms Carney then detailed the stumbling block she and Mr Gu were contending with.

“I have this thing called Scheuermann’s,” Ms Carney told BBC viewers. “I’ve had it since I was a kid.

“It’s a curve in my spine. It’s really, really hard for me to open my back up. There’s just certain elements that I won’t be able to do as well as I’d like to, but Carlos has been really supportive, really encouraging.”

Despite the health challenge, Ms Carney and Mr Gu took to the floor to deliver their Tango, although it didn’t quite hit the heights of their Jive.

First to deliver their verdict on the judging panel was Ms Mabuse. “Obviously, first of all, thank you for sharing with us about your curved spine,” she began.

It’s what she said next that irked several watching at home. Ms Mabuse said to the former footballer: “It’s going to be something that we have to challenge to see how far we can really stretch and open up because it’s a ballroom dance and there’s a specific posture that we need.”

Continuing her critique, Ms Mabuse went on: “That 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; there was a bit of a jitterbug everywhere. Every spin – great spins by the way, lots of speed and attack – but there was a slight jitterbug with everything you did.

“It happens, it happens to us all, so I think you need to think about breathing, thinking about loosening up, connecting to your partner, and really understanding fundamentals, lower in the Tango, and finish your arms using the correct footwork, and then we’ll get there.”

Ms Carney thanked Ms Mabuse for her feedback before Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, and Shirley Ballas weighed in.

She ended up with a respectable score of 20, but rather than comment on the score, several viewers at home took exception to Ms Mabuse’s comments regarding Ms Carney’s condition.

“So Karen says she has a curved spine and Motsi says she needs to stretch it out. What is the woman on?” one X user fumed. “Criticising someone for something they cannot do anything about is beyond ridiculous… #strictly.”

A second echoed: “Motsi being a bit harsh and too personal with mentioning the curved spine and how it may affect her scoring… It’s a medical condition. Hope she treats all other competitors with that same viewpoint! #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”

Another complained: “Quite disgusted that Karen opened up about having a condition that causes a curved spine and Motsi’s reaction was to say they should ‘challenge’ it instead of accommodating it #Strictly #SCD.”

“Did Motsi just suggest that Karen has to ‘work’ on her spine curvature #strictly #issheasurgeon @bbcstrictly,” a fourth added.

And a fifth similarly hit out: “Thank u craig for adding some positives at least, god forbid someone has something they CANNOT change. you can’t fix a curved spine overnight #Strictly.” (sic)

However, others simply took to social media to praise the Lioness on her efforts.

A sixth weighed in: “Oh my days! Karen Carney is an amazing dancer! That tango – with a curvature of the spine – wow! #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly.”