On Friday, March 28, 2025, the judges of 'Danse avec les stars' participated in a special edition titled 'la bataille des juges' (the battle of the judges), which saw the usual panel members—Jean-Marc Généreux, Fauve Hautot, Mel Charlot, and Chris Marques—take to the dance floor in trios alongside two remaining pairs of contestants. The highlight of the evening was the inclusion of a fifth judge, Kamel Ouali, a renowned dancer and choreographer, who had previously gained fame as a teacher on the 'Star Academy'.
However, Ouali's scoring and the challenges he set raised eyebrows among viewers and contestants alike. His decision to give Lenie Vacher, a standout performer, a score of 7 out of 10 for her jive dance was met with widespread criticism. In contrast, he awarded a perfect 10 to Julie Zenatti, a contestant who many felt did not perform at the same level as Lenie.
Lenie and her partner Jordan Mouillerac danced to Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" during the competition, and their performance received rave reviews from the other judges. Fauve Hautot praised Lenie, stating, "You never rest on your laurels... You surpass yourself... Bravo for this challenge because it was tough," and awarded her a perfect score of 10. Similarly, Mel Charlot also gave Lenie a 10, while Chris Marques, despite noting some synchronization issues, awarded her a score of 9.
In stark contrast, Kamel Ouali's lower score for Lenie prompted an outcry on social media. He justified his decision by saying, "I expected more from you... it was great, but I found there was a drop in energy that affected all three of you." He elaborated that he would have preferred to give a higher score but felt that certain aspects, including the lift executed during the performance, warranted a 7 instead. "I would have liked to give a 9 or 10, but due to the lift and a slight weakness in energy or rhythm at one moment, I give a 7, but for me, that is a very good score," he stated.
The disparity in scoring between Ouali and the other judges did not go unnoticed. Viewers took to social media to express their disbelief, with one user remarking, "Kamel has given a 7 to Lenie and a 10 to Julie," prompting a flurry of comments questioning the fairness of the scoring. One viewer pointedly noted, "Kamel, do you realize there’s a problem here?" highlighting the perceived inconsistency in the challenges assigned to different contestants.
As the evening progressed, it became clear that Ouali's choices for challenges also faced scrutiny. He imposed varying levels of difficulty on the pairs, such as dancing blindfolded, not touching the ground for 20 seconds, and even carrying their partners, which some viewers found unfair. For example, while Florent Manaudou's challenge was to "dance with a ghost," Lenie's challenge involved carrying two partners who weighed significantly more than her.
In response to the backlash, Julie Zenatti, who received a 10 from Ouali, addressed the criticism on social media the following day. She stated, "Lenie is a Ferrari, I am a two-horsepower car... it's clear, but let's compare what can be compared. Lenie and I are not in the same category... there’s the 10 for encouragement and the 7 for the requirement to reach the final." Her comments aimed to clarify the reasoning behind the scores and to defend her performance amidst the controversy.
Despite the tumultuous reactions, the competition continued to unfold, with Eve Gilles, Miss France 2024, being eliminated during this episode. The tension surrounding the judging and scoring highlighted the challenges of maintaining objectivity in a competitive environment, especially when personal biases and expectations come into play.
As the season progresses, the dynamics between the judges and contestants will undoubtedly continue to evolve, with fans eagerly anticipating how the scoring will impact the remaining competitors. The controversy surrounding Kamel Ouali’s judging style has certainly sparked conversations about fairness and the subjective nature of dance competitions.
In summary, the 'battle of the judges' edition of 'Danse avec les stars' not only showcased the talents of its contestants but also revealed the complexities and challenges of judging in the performing arts. With each performance, the stakes rise higher, and the audience remains captivated by the unfolding drama both on and off the dance floor.
