Strictly Come Dancing Judge’s Comment Sparks Controversy Over Contestant’s Sobriety

Paul Merson, a former footballer and current Sky Sports pundit, faced an unexpected challenge beyond the dance floor in the latest episode of the popular BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing. While competing alongside his dance partner, Karen Hauer, Merson performed a Salsa routine to Pitbull’s “Fireball,” themed around a barbecue setting.

However, the performance was overshadowed by a comment from judge Craig Revel Horwood, who remarked, “Obviously, the drinks at the BBQ gave you the confidence to do that.” This comment quickly drew criticism from both the audience and viewers, as Merson is a known recovering alcoholic.

Merson, who has been open about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, appeared uncomfortable and replied, “I don’t drink,” while host Tess Daly shook her head in disapproval at Revel Horwood’s remark.

The controversial comment sparked a wave of support for Merson on social media. One user on X, previously known as Twitter, wrote, “Craig making alcohol-related jokes to an alcoholic wasn’t the best.” Another viewer added, “Craig needs to do his homework & research on the contestants. Unnecessary remark to Paul Merson.”

While Horwood’s critique of Merson’s dancing skills was straightforward, awarding him a score of two, viewing the routine as “like a comedy dance at a wedding,” the focus remained on the insensitive remark about Merson’s past.

Despite the low scores, including a total of 15 out of 40 from all judges, there was also praise from judge Shirley Ballas, who described Merson’s performance as “pure entertainment” and acknowledged the energy he brought to the show’s premiere evening.

Speaking to The Independent prior to his debut on Strictly, Merson emphasized the positive impact of his sobriety, stating, “Being a recovering alcoholic and everything, I just want to give back to people watching this show at home that you can go and do something because addiction takes you away from everything. That’s all it ever does. It wants you on your own.”