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Jackson Olson Reveals How Guillermo Rodriguez Reacted to His Apology (Exclusive)
Jackson Olson and Guillermo Rodriguez are waltzing past this rift.
While the Dancing With the Stars contestants already proved they had no bad blood after Olson’s comments about Rodriguez’s last routine, the Savannah Bananas player shared more insight into how the duo were able to bury the hatchet.
“I went to his trailer, we talked for 30 minutes,” Olson told E! News in an exclusive interview alongside partner Emma Slater following the Oct. 6 taping of Dancing With the Stars. “We’re fine. We’ve been friends through this entire journey. We’ve ranted to each other, we’ve talked to each other, and I just walked in and was like, ‘Hey I just want you to know, I meant nothing by that.’”
Unlike some of the critics online, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! star understood the Savannah Bananas player immediately. As Olson recalled, ‘He was like, ‘Dude, I know. It’s totally fine.’”
Indeed, the duo proved they were putting their best foot forward in an Oct. 6 TikTok, where they danced to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana and Olson reiterated his apology for insulting Rodriguez’s skills.
“To G and to all of you, I am truly sorry that my comment I made the other day caused this much unnecessary negativity,” Olson wrote in the caption. “I never meant for it to do that and I take full ownership and I love this guy. Now let’s do what this show is meant to be about: DANCE.”
Olson first stirred controversy by commenting on fellow Banana Ball player Erik Ostberg’s reimagining of Rodriguez’s foxtrot to “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” that he performed with Witney Carson in the Sept. 29 episode.
In a since-deleted comment, Olson had quipped to Ostberg, per Cosmopolitan, “@erikostberg21 but seriously how did you do this better than him with 2 hours of rehearsal.”
Luckily for Olson, the feud was extinguished just in time for him to celebrate his 29th birthday Oct. 6, which his girlfriend Maggie Sajak made sure to shoutout on social media.
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Naturally, Olson was floored by the sweet gesture.
“It’s awesome,” he mused to E!. “She said that I was a ray of sunshine, she is the ray of sunshine. She’s so positive all the time. No matter what’s happening—negative, positive—she just keeps a level head and keeps me going.”
And Olson teased that he and Sajak—who confirmed their romance in April—are in it for the long haul. As he put it, “We’ve only been dating for such a short amount of time but that’s how you know it’s right.”
For a deeper look into all the DWTS contestants in season 35, 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.
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Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.
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Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
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Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.
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Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
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Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
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Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
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Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
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Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.
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Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
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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.
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Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
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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.
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Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.
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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."
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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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