As soon as the full Dancing With the Stars season 35 cast was unveiled on Wednesday, September 2, fans rushed to social media to call out multiple casting decisions.
The biggest complaint? Countless fans were shocked that show producers not only cast two contestants with extensive dance backgrounds, but paired them with two of the shows most beloved and experienced pros.
The Rookie actress Jenna Dewan, who was a backup dancer for Janet Jackson in the early 2000s, has been paired with DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy, who has won the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy three of the 20 seasons he’s competed on. Meanwhile, Glee alum Harry Shum Jr. will dance with two-time Mirrorball winner Jenna Johnson, who’s married to Chmerkovskiy.
One of the fans who flooded Instagram with reactions quipped, “So the mirror ball is going to (their) house no matter how this plays out ?.”
Jenna Dewan & Harry Shum Jr. Responded to Quick Criticism of Their Casting
The pushback over Dewan joining the cast has been especially loud, with one fan drawing nearly 2,500 likes on a comment that said, “I love Jenna but how is that even legal lol?! Don’t get me wrong I’m going to absolutely enjoy watching her but she was literally a professional dancer cast in a movie about dancing with a partner ??”
“They put her with val that’s diabolical, knowing how good she is I can’t wait!” someone else quipped.
Another lamented, “Putting Val with Jenna is wrong!!!! She’s a dancer and Harry is a dancer too omggg this is wild!!!!”
Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Jenna Johnson, and Val Chmerkovskiy from “Dancing With The Stars” season 35.Disney/Andrew Eccles
Dewan, who co-starred in the popular 2006 dance movie Step Up with Channing Tatum, responded to the backlash by arguing that although she’s been a professional dancer, her style is very different than ballroom dancing.
“Let’s be clear,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s two different languages. There’s parts of my dance training that’s helpful, obviously. I’ve learned choreography, I can perform, but there is a certain sense of unlearning for me. It’s a new technique, brand new technique. It almost threw me off initially because I had to unlearn a lot of — I don’t want to say bad habits — but just habits of the style that I’m used to.”
Other fans pointed out that Shum could also have an unfair advantage with his background. One fan drew over 3,200 likes on her Instagram comment, which said, “Harry and Jenna is just unfair LMAO he graduated from glee boot camp cmon now?”
But Shum also defended his fancy footwork after the GMA cast reveal, telling People, “I think everyone’s idea is like, ‘Oh, you dance, so you should be able to dance anything.’ And I mean, that’s just not true. There are hundreds of styles, not dozens, hundreds all over the world.”
Meanwhile, someone else joked of Julia Stiles‘ casting, referencing the 2001 romance film Save the Last Dance: “I don’t think it’s fair for the rest of the cast, Julia Stiles went to Juilliard ?.”
Despite some backlash, plenty of celebrities were already rooting for Team Dewan.
Rumer Willis wrote, “You know this is my favorite team already!!!” as JoAnna Garcia Swisher added, “This is going to be so amazing!!!!”
Elizabeth Berkley chimed in, “Cannot wait to see your MAGIC?,” while Odette Annable wrote, “Babe!!!!! I smell a ??!!!!!” and hairstylist Riawna Capri added, “Oh s—! Yall are winning. 100%.”
DWTS season 35 premieres kicks off on back-to-back nights, on Tuesday, September 25 and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET both nights.
Hence then, the article about dwts fans call out diabolical season 35 pairings stars defend the casting was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘DWTS’ Fans Call Out ‘Diabolical’ Season 35 Pairings—Stars Defend the Casting )
Also on site :
- 1979 Maxine Nightingale Breakup Ballad, Written in One Hour, Ranked One of the Best Adult Contemporary Songs of All Time
- Walmart’s Farmhouse Baker’s Rack Makes a ‘Cute Coffee Station’ and Offers Extra Storage for Small Kitchens
- Martha Stewart’s 12-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set Looks Like Heirloom China and Is Perfect for Fall Hosting