In her 2025 book, Best Foot Forward, Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley outlined how the dance world is "rife" with what she termed "wicked whispers" and "petty politics". Shirley even went as far as claiming that there were individuals who presumed she'd "clambered over others" to secure her success. ‌It appears these unidentified people failed when it came to their attempts to create division between Shirley and then-newcomer Motsi, who has become one of her "closest friends". Motsi Mabuse was told just that when she joined the Strictly judging panel in 2019 and I know who it was that tipped her off, too." ‌Shirley revealed that another person had shared that he'd been contacted by someone she had instructed.