The 39-Point Abomination: How One Score Robbed Karen Carney’s Blackpool Paso Doble of Strictly History
Blackpool. For any celebrity contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, the famous Tower Ballroom is more than just a venue; it is the ultimate proving ground, a glittering monument where dreams are forged into reality or heartbreakingly extinguished. It is the spiritual home of ballroom, and for a dance as fiercely dramatic as the Paso Doble, there is no grander stage. This year, the legendary ballroom witnessed a routine so powerful, so epic, and so unanimously praised that it promised to become an instant classic. Yet, it also became the epicenter of the season’s most sensational controversy, a moment of judicial dissent that has left fans fuming, judges protesting, and the phrase “39-point abomination” trending across social media.
The subject of this furor is none other than former England Lioness, Karen Carney, alongside her professional partner, Carlos Gu. A couple already celebrated for their gritty determination and surprising ability to embody character-driven dances, their performance was set to the ominous, pounding drama of “O Fortuna” by Carmina Burana. It was a choreographic gamble of the highest order, pairing the fierce Spanish-inspired intensity of the Paso Doble with one of classical music’s most apocalyptic and demanding scores. But on that Saturday night, Karen Carney didn’t just meet the demands of the music; she devoured them.
What unfolded on the sprung floor of the Tower Ballroom was a theatrical spectacle that left the live audience on their feet and the judging panel emotionally rattled. Karen, a sports person with no prior dance experience, channeled every ounce of her competitive aggression into the role of the Matador, delivering a performance that was universally described as “magnificent” and “epic.” It was a demonstration of power, precision, and raw passion that transcended the technical constraints of the competition. From the dizzying turns to the dramatic moments of floorography, including a breathtaking moment where Carlos spun Karen dramatically to the ground, every movement was imbued with a ferocious commitment.
The reaction from the panel was swift, and frankly, unprecedented. Head Judge Shirley Ballas, a respected figure in the competitive ballroom world, was moved to tears by the sheer quality of the routine. Her words, usually measured and technical, became an outpouring of superlatives. “Carlos, you’ve got me quite emotional,” she declared. “I’ve never seen a paso doble like that, you nailed everything like a top-class professional. That was epic. It will go down in history.” She wasn’t alone in her awe. Anton Du Beke, often the voice of classic ballroom elegance, called the performance “an absolute tour de force,” going so far as to assure the couple that they “will never dance better” than they did on that night.
Perhaps the most visceral reaction came from Motsi Mabuse. In a display of frustration and solidarity rarely seen on the judging panel, Motsi literally protested the eventual outcome. Before the scores were even read, her initial feedback was a testament to the dance’s perfection. She stated publicly that she did not “have a paddle that can express how good that dance was,” indicating that even a 10 felt insufficient. The sentiment was clear: Karen and Carlos had delivered a perfect, historical routine.
And then came the moment the entire nation collectively gasped.
When the paddles were raised, three glorious, shining 10s were displayed—from Shirley, from Anton, and from Motsi. A perfect 40 was within their grasp, the crowning achievement of the iconic Blackpool week and a validation of Karen’s incredible journey. But there was a single, dissenting paddle: the number nine, held aloft by the show’s resident pantomime villain, Craig Revel Horwood.
The audience reaction was immediate and deafening. A torrent of boos rained down upon Craig, a sound that quickly became the signature sonic backdrop of the controversy. The energy in the room, which had been pure exhilaration, immediately soured into collective disbelief. Motsi Mabuse, standing in protest, turned to Craig and the audience, passionately defending the couple. “I said no, I fought for you,” she insisted, validating the feeling that the couple had been unjustly penalized.
Craig, however, remained characteristically unrepentant. While acknowledging the performance as “insane, sharp and exciting” and praising Karen as “absolutely incredible,” his single point of criticism was the reason for the deduction: he “would’ve liked a little more softened Spanish line.” That single, subjective note—a desire for a softer, more lyrical edge in a dance defined by aggression and dramatic rigidity—was enough to dock a point and shatter the dream of a perfect score.
The 39 points Karen and Carlos received was undeniably spectacular, placing them among the highest scorers of the night and solidifying their status as serious contenders for the Glitterball Trophy. For many, however, 39 felt like a failure of justice.
The subsequent social media explosion was unprecedented. Fans rushed to X (formerly Twitter) to express their unbridled fury, using the strongest possible language to describe the perceived injustice. Phrases like “abomination,” “riggory,” and “robbed” flooded timelines. The public narrative was simple: Karen Carney had delivered one of the most powerful Paso Dobles in the show’s 23-series history, and she was denied the perfect score she deserved. The outrage was not just about a number; it was about acknowledging a transcendent, transformative moment in the competition. Many pointed out that other contestants often received 40s for routines that, while excellent, did not carry the same historical weight and sheer technical difficulty as Karen’s dramatic effort.
What makes this near-perfection even more emotionally engaging is the underlying story of Karen’s dedication. Her journey to Blackpool as only the second footballer ever to achieve the feat is inspiring enough, but it is her work ethic behind the scenes that truly defines her commitment. It was revealed in a previous week, when Carlos Gu broke down in tears following their emotional American Smooth, that Karen was pushing through immense physical pain. She suffers from a spinal condition that causes a curved spine, making the demanding posture and frame of ballroom dancing a significant challenge.
Carlos, visibly emotional when discussing her progress, had revealed Karen’s stoic determination: “I know the ballroom is not her strength, but she came into the training room and she said, ‘Carlos, I really want to try hard. I know my back has problems, but I really want to try and I really want to show that I’m improving just a little bit.'” This context transforms the Blackpool Paso Doble from a mere dance into a profound act of physical and mental resilience. The performance was a testament to her ‘sportsperson spirit,’ where she worked so hard that her legs were bruised from the floorwork, yet she never stopped trying to achieve the high bar Carlos had set for her.
The fact that this near-perfect moment was achieved under such strenuous personal circumstances only heightened the public’s feeling of injustice when the score fell short. It wasn’t just a dance being judged; it was the triumph of spirit over physical limitation.
In the end, while the score reads 39, the performance has achieved something far more valuable than a paddle with a ‘4’ and a ‘0’. Karen Carney and Carlos Gu’s Paso Doble has become part of Strictly folklore—a dance so good, it created a scandal. It is the moment that proves Karen is not just a footballer trying to dance, but a legitimate, heart-and-soul performer capable of delivering historical moments. For the millions who watched, the debate over a single point is now irrelevant. They saw a 40. They saw an iconic performance that will forever be remembered not for the score it received, but for the one it was tragically, furiously, and undeniably robbed of. The path to the Glitterball remains open, but Karen and Carlos have already secured their permanent place in the legendary history of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
