Jackie Belanoff-Smith blasts ‘pointless and unfair’ Dancing On Ice after husband Ben Foden was axed

Ben Foden’s wife Jackie Belanoff-Smith has slammed Dancing On Ice after her husband Ben Foden was the first to be voted off.

The health and wellness entrepreneur claimed that the ‘pointless’ programme is an ‘unfair popularity competition’, adding that the worst skater managed to remain in the process.

The US native revealed she was looking forward to jetting out of England, so that she could ‘get back to the real world’ in her scathing attack.

She had previously encouraged viewers not to vote for the rugby professional, joking she was ‘convinced’ he would cheat on her with S Club 7’s Rachel Stevens.

In her post, she began: ‘What’s the point of saying it’s a skate competition when it’s really just a popularity competition?

‘Why divide the skaters into two weeks, groups of your choosing, and why not judge all their scores together after the two weeks?

‘What’s the point of getting a bunch of people together and then not judging them together afterwards?

‘And what’s the point of having a judging panel when it’s all down to a public vote.

‘That’s not a skate competition, it’s a popularity competition. What’s the point of anyone doing this really practicing and trying to learn if you’re just going to be judged on your popularity?

‘It’s a bit unfair, and we’re a bit sad, the worst skater wasn’t the first to go, I don’t really see the point.’

‘Yes, it’s how the show makes money but maybe leave the public vote for the save me skate offs or something?

‘Otherwise it’s just kind of pointless to even try.’

Ben was the first celebrity to be booted from the ITV favourite on Sunday after losing out in the skate off to Ria Hebden.

And the rugby player’s wife Jackie looked seething after he was axed from the competition, as the couple drove away from Bovingdon ice rink.

Meanwhile, furious viewers branded his elimination a ‘fix,’ claiming that Ria was only saved over Ben because she works for ITV show Lorraine as an entertainment reporter.

The rugby star left the ice rink with wife Jackie by his side following his shock elimination from Dancing on Ice.

Dressed in a chic white coat, the American socialite looked to be extremely unimpressed, glaring at the paparazzi as her husband drove them away.

Earlier in the evening, Ben was forced into the first skate-off of the series after he failed to receive enough votes from the public.

Judges Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean voted unanimously to save Ria and her partner Łukasz Różycki over Ben and Robin Johnstone.

Viewers were furious with the result of the skate-off, and took to Twitter to vent their frustrations as many claimed the decision to save Ria over Ben was a ‘fix.’

One person wrote: ‘Ria can’t skate without holding her partner quite literally clinging to her partner whilst Ben is lifting his partner such a fix #dancingonice.’

Another fan of the show fumed: ‘quite clearly a fix #dancingonice,’ with someone else adding: ‘#DancingOnIce what’s going on Ben was much better he did lifts turns, Ria was just thrown about with partner lol.’

‘#dancingonice FIX – seems ITV can’t have one of their own employees go out after week 1 ! Ben was much better – he lead & lifted seriously he could have gone far,’ tweeted a frustrated viewer.’

Someone else raged: ‘Total fix, Ben danced on his own and did lifts of his professional dancer. Ria no solo dancing, spent most of performance off ice in air, stuck to professional like glue. All judges need to go to specsavers.’

Speaking about his decision to save Ria, Ashley Banjo said: ‘Well done to both of you, we do have to pick somebody. The couple I’ve picked is because I think the routine had more elements.’

Also voting for Ria, Oti Mabuse added: ‘I’m gonna vote for the couple I felt was more confident and took more risks,’ while Chris said: ‘It’s all about the skating ability and the performance and the couple that had that, to me, is Ria and Łukasz.’

Before he headed home, Holly asked rugby star Ben: ‘Have you enjoyed your time here?’

He was quick to gush: ‘I have. I thought they’d be someone that couldn’t skate, turns out it’s me. I can’t wait to see these guys develop.’

Jackie previously begged fans not to vote for the rugby player on Dancing On Ice since she was convinced he would cheat on her, in what appeared to be a tongue in cheek reference to recent discussions of his fidelity.

She joked that she’s ‘convinced’ S Club 7’s Rachel Stevens, who is also currently competing on the ITV series, will be the one to lead him astray, after the love rat dubbed her the ‘sexiest woman alive’.

She sarcastically confessed in a now-deleted Instagram post, according to The Sun: ‘Just getting so nervous by all the comments everyone’s been making, you’ve all convinced me my husband’s gonna cheat on me!!!

‘Hoping for him to get voted off those show Sunday so he doesn’t have an affair with Rachel, please don’t vote for him on Sunday!’

The mum-of-one, who married the star in 2019, added: ‘He’s going to cheat on me if not already if he stays in! Thanks for all your concerns, you all just know your stuff!’

She concluded: ‘Thanks for being so vigilant and smart.. in this day and age it’s just wrong and stupid to have faith and trust in someone you love.’

Representatives for Rachel have been contacted for comment by MailOnline.

Having welcomed daughter Farrah, 22 months, in 2020, Jackie staunchly insisted he would ‘never’ cheat on her, despite his unfaithful behaviour to ex-wife Una Healy.

The sportsman made the cheeky comment to the S Club 7 star, 43, during a joint press conference ahead of his skating debut on Sunday, reported The Sun.

During the interview Rachel was asked what unique qualities would make her stand out from the competition, with the beauty replying: ‘Oh my goodness… You just go into it as yourself and take the opportunity to learn.

‘It’s such a fun, amazing show. I just want to go in and do the best I can.

‘Ultimately you have to bring yourself and have fun. You’re putting on a show. That’s what is so special. We’re all bringing something different and our own unique thing.’

At which rugby ace Ben then interjected: ‘That – and you’re the sexiest woman in the world, Rachel.’

Ben, who shares two children Aoife, nine, and Tadgh, six, with ex Una, 40, left the singer broken hearted when he was unfaithful, as he later admitted: ‘I was the one who committed adultery… It’s not ideal but we’re very amicable’.

And his new wife Jackie recently said she has no concerns about history repeating itself, telling OK!: ‘From day one he’s never made me feel paranoid or insecure…

‘He’s not once worried me. I think you just know, deep down, when that could happen and it’s not a possibility with us, so I’m not concerned.’

Dancing On Ice continues next Sunday on ITV at 6.30pm.