BBC blasted over extended tribute to Strictly star La Voix: 'Winners don’t get as big a send-off'
The drag icon was interviewed by Tess and Claudia last night
Strictly Come Dancing said goodbye to La Voix in sparkling style last night. But not everyone thought that the emotional star’s farewell should’ve been given quite as much airtime…
La Voix’s time on the show was nothing short of iconic. So it was only right that her Strictly farewell was the same, right? Wrong!
Strictly viewers took to Twitter in their droves last night, flooding the social media site with complaints that La Voix’s exit didn’t really warrant an extended send-off at Blackpool. But, as other fans pointed out, Strictly bosses had their reasons…
La Voix’s Strictly exit explained
Strictly said goodbye to La Voix in its most recent results show (November 23). She wasn’t voted out, but instead had to withdraw from Strictly due to injury.
Presenter Tess Daly announced the news during Saturday’s Blackpool special. And, as a result, the dance-off was cancelled this week, meaning that no one left the show.
So, with time to fill, producers decided to give La Voix a right royal send-off.
The segment included a highlights reel and a sit-down interview with dance partner Aljaž Škorjanec.
Then it was time for La Voix’s last dance. She descended from the ceiling of the Tower Ballroom, sitting on a red glittery heart. She was met by partner Aljaz, who picked her up and spun her around, before the rest of the Strictly cast ran onto the dance floor to console her.
While heartwarming, a number of viewers were confused by the amount of time the results show dedicated to La Voix’s exit.
Viewers react to Strictly star La Voix’s send-off
One X user wrote: “Christ, winners don’t get as big a send-off as La Voix got.” “Why is La Voix getting this special send-off?” another asked.
While a third echoed: “Why such a big deal about La Voix? Obviously unfortunate she’s out with an injury, but no one else who left on medical grounds got a prime time send off or extra air time.”
Similarly, a fourth added: “Why on earth is La Voix getting this big send off? Nobody else gets this treatment. Bore off.”
While the majority of viewers were against the send-off, a small number of X users took the opposite view. For instance, a fifth X post reads: “La Voix getting a bigger send-off than if she’d lost a dance off is quite iconic.”
Elsewhere, viewers suggested that, without an elimination, the send-off was extended to fill more time.
“Sad La Voix is out, but they’re giving her such a long goodbye to fill time you’d think she died,” a sixth wrote.
Quoting viewers, another X user posted: “‘Why is La Voix getting a big send off when nobody else ever does?’ Because they have 15 minutes of airtime to fill thanks to no elimination Karen, take a seat!”
Why did La Voix withdraw from Strictly?
In a social media statement, La Voix shared: “I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing Strictly Come Dancing. This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’m letting people down.
“My spirit wanted to to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas! Thank you for every cheer, every vote, and every sparke of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish this forever.”
