Viewers of Strictly Come Dancing have been left baffled after head judge Shirley Ballas criticised Ellie Simmonds' dance for having an "assisted lift" as part of the choreography.
Ellie and professional dancer Nikita Kuzman performed the Paso Doble to Montagues and Capulets from Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, as used as the theme music for the BBC's Apprentice.
Following their routine the pair received feedback from the judges, with one particular criticism leaving fans baffled.
Head judge Shirley, 62, said that Ellie took basic principles but made them her own, before adding: "I only have one little complaint. I do, I'm so sorry.
"I do have to deduct one point for an assisted lift at the beginning because that's not allowed.
"But other than that you were absolutely phenomenal."
Craig was in agreement, calling it an "illegal lift" as he criticised the movement.
According to the National Dance Council of America a lift "is any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner."
Whether lifts are allowed, and how many if so, depends on the type of dance being performed.
Nevertheless, fans were quick to take to social media, with many expressing confusion with many defending the Paralympian swimmer.
One wrote: "What an absolute idiot, an illegal lift. What about when the rest are doing it. Shirley, f**k off."
Another asked: "Can someone explain what an assisted lift is please and why it is illegal?"
To which one Twitter user clarified which dances are allowed lifts and which are not, writing: "No lifts allowed: Rhumba, Cha Cha, Jive, Paso Doble, Samba, Tango, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep.
"Lifts allowed: Jitterbug, Argentine Tango, Charleston, Salsa, Jazz, Contemporary."
Long-time fans of the show joked that it had been a while since an "illegal lift situation" with one writing: "Illegal lift alert!!!! Love it when the judges bring out the rule book."
Other viewers joined in on questioning the criticism with one arguing: "I don’t understand the comment about the illegal lift. How else was Ellie supposed to get off the table?"
The backlash to this feedback comes amid further criticism of Shirley's scoring and judging.
The former professional dancer has been accused of favouring male celebrity contestants over female ones.
This controversy came to a head earlier this series when she said she wanted to save Richie Anderson over Fleur East in the dance-off.
Taking to social media to express anger over this, one viewer wrote: "Sexist Shirley would have saved Richie over Fleur. Ffs, Richie’s dance had negligible samba content and he fannied around the judges’ tables for half the dance.
"Fleur’s dance was elegant and beautiful. She has no credibility as a judge #Strictly," followed by an angry face emoji."
Shirley has since appeared on Loose Women where she defended herself against these accusations.
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