Celebrity Big Brother viewers were left furious when Louis Walsh ordered Nikita Kuzmin to ‘stop crying’ in tense scenes on Thursday night.

The X Factor judge, 71, scolded the Strictly star, 26, during the shocking face-to-face nominations, when the latter began crying while voting for the former.

The housemates were ordered to kiss the co-star they nominated – and when a sobbing Nikita approached Louis after saying he was lazy around the house, the septuagenarian spat: ‘Stop crying for God’s sake’.

Nikita – who stated: ‘I don’t think Louis has helped around the house as much as everyone else has, that’s my reason’, before Louis’ slur – has scored legions of fans since entering the house, many of whom swarmed Twitter after the moment.

Angry fans penned: ‘LOUIS TELLING NIKITA TO “STOP CRYING FOR GOD’S SAKE” YOU ARE A BITTER EMOTIONLESS OLD MAN LEAVE MY BABY ALONE… @kuzmin__nikita is so pure Louis is vile we must protect nikita at all cost!!!…

Celebrity Big Brother viewers were left furious when Louis Walsh ordered Nikita Kuzmin to ‘stop crying’ in tense scenes on Thursday night

The X Factor judge, 71, scolded the Strictly star, 26, during the shocking face-to-face nominations, when the latter began crying while voting for the former

Angry fans penned: ‘LOUIS TELLING NIKITA TO “STOP CRYING FOR GOD’S SAKE” YOU ARE A BITTER EMOTIONLESS OLD MAN LEAVE MY BABY ALONE… @kuzmin__nikita is so pure Louis is vile we must protect nikita at all cost!!!’

‘Nikita for the win for me!!! LITERALLY, just because he’s mean and Nikita has a heart of gold, like please bring Sharon back bc she loved Nikita and I feel like Louis would have been nicer…

‘The NERVE on Louis. How dare he have that disgusting attitude to tell Nikita to stop crying in that tone. #CBB #CBBUK…

‘Why is nobody talking about Louis telling Nikita to stop crying… Louis telling Nikita to stop crying, no, just no! Men need to be free with their emotions, never tell anyone to stop crying #cbbuk…

‘Me to louis when told nikita to stop crying #CBBUK… Louis you best not speak to Nikita like that just because you are heartless arsehole who wouldn’t know emotion if it hit you in the face #CBB…

‘I’ve watched half of tonight’s Big Brother episode with my little sister and Louis Walsh is so annoying. Him saying to Nikita “Stop crying god damn it” during face to face nominations that is brutal let Nikita express his emotions #CBBUK…

‘And who the hell is Louis to tell him to stop crying. That man is insufferable. Nikita for the win. Pure… Louis speaking to Nikita like that omfg #CBBUK… Louis, don’t you dare tell my baby Nikita not to cry. He’s purer than Bambi. #CBBUK #CBBLL…

Others however jumped to the star’s defense, penning: ‘Agreed, it wasn’t said with malice. You’ve only got to watch the way Sharon and Louis, who are friends, go back and forth to see that’s his style’

One of Nikita’s fans wrote: ‘I swear I’m going to throw hands at Louis for telling Nikita to stop crying… How dare Louis speak to Nikita like that’

‘I swear I’m going to throw hands at Louis for telling Nikita to stop crying… How dare Louis speak to Nikita like that…

‘The poor boy was upset, have some respect for the situation… nikita was crying when he said his nominations and when he went over to kiss louis he said ‘oh stop crying’… No, I actually can’t get over Louis telling Nikita to shut up crying #CBBUK’.

Others however jumped to the star’s defense, penning: ‘Agreed, it wasn’t said with malice. You’ve only got to watch the way Sharon and Louis, who are friends, go back and forth to see that’s his style…

‘Would be nice to see Nikita come off the fence a bit more.’

Louis is up for eviction after receiving eight nominations