The glittering finale of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 was meant to be a night of pure celebration, but for many viewers, a tense off-stage drama stole the spotlight. The long-rumoured feud between professional dancers Carlos Gu and Nancy Xu appeared to flare up again, captured in a series of telling moments during the live broadcast.
A Champion's Emotional Confession
After being crowned champion alongside footballer Karen Carney, an overwhelmed Carlos Gu gave a tearful speech. He confessed that before this series, he had been "self-centred" following a life in competitive dance, focusing only on "me, me, me." He emotionally suggested this was why he believed he was overlooked for a celebrity partner the previous year. Struggling to compose himself, he credited Karen with changing his life, calling her "the best thing that I've ever had in 2025" and praising her for teaching him kindness, humility, and teamwork.
Nancy Xu's Telling Reaction
As cameras cut to the group of professional dancers during Carlos's vulnerable moment, viewers quickly noticed Nancy Xu's stony expression. While others appeared supportive or emotional, Nancy maintained a fixed, impassive look. This did not go unnoticed on social media platform X, where fans swiftly commented on the apparent frostiness. One user wrote, "If you don't like him then stay out of camera shot and keep your feelings to yourself," while another observed, "Nancy so not bothered by Carlos' tears."
The speculation was fuelled further by Nancy's congratulatory post on Instagram after the win. She shared snaps of the winning pair with the caption: "Congratulations for all the final couples! And Well‑deserved Winer @kazcarney and Carlos." Critically, she did not tag Carlos Gu in the post, leading fans to draw conclusions in the comments. Remarks included, "Now Nancy is not tagging Carlos in her post for Karen. They clearly had a big fallout," and "Gutted Nancy and Carlos are no longer friends."
History of a Childhood Friendship Turned Sour
The pair, who have been close friends since childhood, reportedly fell out last year. Insiders claimed they were "refusing to speak backstage," creating an "awkward and tense" atmosphere on set. The rift was believed to have started when Carlos was disappointed about not being paired with a celebrity. They also reportedly unfollowed each other on social media.
Carlos has previously addressed the rumours, telling The Daily Mail, "We're fine. We've been friends since childhood, and friends argue, we're too close and are like brother and sister to completely fall out." A separate source also emphasised that both dancers remain "extremely cordial and always incredibly professional" while at the Strictly studios.
Despite the backstage whispers, the night belonged to Carlos and Karen, who beat fellow finalists George Clarke and Amber Davies to lift the Glitterball Trophy. However, the unspoken tension between two of the show's beloved professionals has undoubtedly become a major talking point, leaving fans wondering if the rift can ever truly be healed.
