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Dancing With the Stars' Jackson Olson posted an apology to fellow contestant Guillermo Rodriguez after writing a since-deleted comment criticizing Rodriguez's dancing skills.
Jackson Olson Shares How He’s Prioritizing Girlfriend Maggie Sajak Amid His ‘DWTS’ Schedule
Jackson Olson isn’t waltzing past this controversy.
Days after he made a comment seemingly making fun of his fellow Dancing With the Stars contestant Guillermo Rodriguez, the Savannah Bananas player made a public apology.
Olson posted a video of himself to Instagram Oct. 6 set to the Hannah Montana song “Nobody’s Perfect,” which features the lyrics, “Everybody makes mistakes / everybody has those days.” Halfway through the video, Rodriguez joins in, with the two showing off their dancing skills.
And Olson made sure to double-down on his apology in the caption, writing, “To G and to all of you, from the bottom of my heart I am so sorry about my comment I made the other day and that it caused this much negativity.”
“I love this guy,” the 29-year-old added, “now let’s do what this show is meant to be about.. DANCE. ily G.”
Olson first kicked up controversy when he commented on an Oct. 3 TikTok video from the Loco Beach Coconuts in which player Erik Ostberg humorously recreated Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson’s dance from Sept. 29’s Yacht Rock Night.
His since deleted comment allegedly read, per Cosmopolitan, “@erikostberg21 but seriously how did you do this better than him with 2 hours of rehearsal.”
Thankfully, Rodriguez and Olson—who is paired this season with Emma Slater—managed to put the conversation behind them, as the Jimmy Kimmel Live! star and Carson—who is pregnant with her third baby with husband Carson McAllister—have maintained their fan-favorite status.
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In fact, late night host John Oliver revealed that he and wife Kate Norley’s 10-year-old and 8-year-old sons are all in on season 35 of DWTS thanks to Rodriguez.
“My kids have never seen Dancing with the Stars before and are now obsessed just because of this guy here,” he told Rodriguez on the Oct. 1 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “As soon as you get voted off that show, they're done with that program forever.”
“My 8-year-old—we watch on Tuesday and they have to go to bed before the judging happens, before the scores come in,” Oliver explained. “At 4:00 a.m., he walks in with his hands in front of his eyes, rubbing them. I thought he had a nightmare and he just said, ‘Is Guillermo still in?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ He went, ‘Yes! Yes!’”
For a look at all the stars hoping to take home the Mirrorball Trophy on this season of Dancing With the Stars, keep reading.
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Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom.
"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.
"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
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