Shirley Ballas Changes Outfit Amid PETA Backlash

Shirley Ballas, head judge of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, was compelled to change her outfit at the last minute after PETA criticized the use of real feathers in costumes. For the show's results on November 3, Ballas had to remove ostrich feathers from her red gown due to the animal rights group's demands, which stated that the process of obtaining feathers is cruel and harmful to birds. The sudden alteration shocked Ballas, who had initially donned a glamorous feathered outfit, leaving her no time to change into something else before filming commenced. Fellow judge Motsi Mabuse even assisted in the hurried removal of the feathers. PETA had previously contacted the show's producers, urging them to adopt feather-free alternatives, highlighting the cruelty involved in obtaining bird plumage. This incident reflects ongoing tensions between animal rights activism and entertainment practices in the fashion industry.