Bruno Tonioli appeared to snap at Alison Hammond during a tense exchange on This Morning alongside co-star Simon Cowell.
The Britain's Got Talent judge became visibly frustrated when the topic of contestant Max Fox came up during today's show.
The awkward moment occurred as Hammond joked about a lie detector test regarding the contestant who was selected from the audience last weekend, making it a show first.
Not understanding the nature of Hammond’s joke, Tonioli quickly interjected to defend the authenticity of the audition.
The exchange happened while he and Cowell were appearing on the programme to discuss tomorrow's first of five semi-finals.
The moment left fellow presenter Dermot O'Leary looking puzzled as Bruno accused the hosts of being "nasty".
The star became agitated when Simon Cowell was called a 'liar' by Alison Hammond
ITV
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The tension rose when Cowell mentioned he would take a lie detector test to prove Max Fox's audition wasn't staged.
"It's funny you say that because we actually have a lie detector test," Hammond joked, leaving Cowell to play back: “I'll do it.”
It was at this point Tonioli misunderstood and intervened, saying: "Why do you always have to go for the nasty? It is not set up, my darling."
Cowell quickly defended the presenters, stating: "They're not being nasty,” before O’Leary confirmed: “Bruno, we're not being nasty.”
Simon diffused the situation and defended the hosts
ITV
The exchange appeared to show Tonioli’s apparent sensitivity around suggestions that the audition might have been pre-arranged.
The moment didn’t go unnoticed by viewers at home who were quick to take to their social media to comment on the exchange.
One penned: “#ThisMorning Bruno getting a bit prickly there!”
“Oh Bruno...grow up,” a second expressed before a third noted: “Bruno’s defensiveness makes me not want to believe it even more.”
Another pointed out: “Bruno wasn’t even there when Max auditioned, KSI stood in for him, so why he’s getting so aggy I don’t know...”
“Swear he wasn’t even at the audition...” another queried before a sixth said: “Bruno being so far up Simon’s a**e is so funny. Mate, he’s playing along leave him alone.” (sic)
The act asked Simon for an audition from the audience on a whim
ITV
The first of the semi-finals will take place tomorrow night, with one of the show's most complained-about acts this series being put forward.
During the launch of the show, Auzzy Blood received 680 Ofcom complaints for his gruesome act, which left kids “screaming and throwing up”.
