Why DWTS 35 fans turned on Derek, Val, and Jenna

Can I be honest? Disney week was kind of a bust. There always seems to be a mid-season Dancing with the Stars episode that doesn’t rise above the rest, and this “Disney on Broadway…but only kinda” theme week led to some mediocre dancing and subpar judging.

Of course, I will be wearing black for the rest of the season as Julia Stiles was sent home after an exceptionally improved paso doble. I love her. I want nothing but the best for her. I demand the industry puts her in more things. (Meanwhile, I hope Ezra Sosa puts himself in my car so I can take him on a date to Salt & Straw.)

Both the depressing elimination and mediocrity on the dance floor aside, it seems like the bigger conversations are happening outside of the ballroom. 

Last year, I quickly noticed how DWTS had become the hot show for ABC after over thirty seasons on the air. It was noticeable before the ratings continued to increase, thanks to social media fervor. Yet, just like Haley Stevens did on CNN, shit is flipping.

The social media attention being paid towards the show has become more specific and more vicious. 

Here’s a taste of where viewers heads are through their reels and posts:

Val and Jenna are enemies of the state

At this point, it doesn’t seem to stem from the hubbub over Val “joking” about smacking Carrie Ann (a crazy sentence). Viewers are sick of them as individuals.

Their choreography tends to showcase themselves and not their counterpart. (You know, the one actively competing?!)

Just looking this week, Jenna choreographed their dance to highlight her more than Harry. Near the end, he just left screen as she got a solo moment.

Question for the group: What the fuck?

Both pairs delivered perfect scores, but both dances felt…fake? Insincere? It does not help that the production pre-tapes make Jenna and Harry look like the second coming of Christ. I did laugh when they brought in the Make-A-Wish family, as if to be like “Look! They are good people!”

Connor is the people’s princess

…and it’s very clearly not based on dance skills. Was his dance last week excellent? For sure! Did I find his waltz this week delightfully sweet? Sure thing, made me wanna buy a Sugar Cookie lotion from Bath & Body Works.

However, we have to admit he’s the weakest of the bunch. Yet the girlies online are ready to film The Odyssey 2, climb into a giant wooden mirror ball, and storm Television City.

As is often said, the personality of a contestant is sometimes more powerful than their actual dancing skills, and Connor is proof.

Derek’s ego run amok

If you are a female woman celebrity competing on this show, you are not getting scored properly, and the viewers are sick of it.

Derek seems to be the crux of the anger, as he is determined to create such a profound word soup with every critique that, somehow, credits himself as the greatest human to ever exist. (For example: “Connor, I loved how you moved your arms in the last dance, because I often use my arms to carry the weight of societal norms, which I felt more than ever back when I walked right into that bunker and shot Hitler.”)

Tatyana had a wonderful contemporary this week, and the judges’ comments were almost all criticisms. Can we say one nice thing about the girl? Connor jumped over a sofa and we acted like he invented the COVID vaccine. 

I’m curious to see if the viewership’s voting will reflect the social media commentary:

• Will Jenna or Harry be voted off due to boredom and annoyance with their partners?
• Will Tatyana make it to the end based on her talent and the audience’s spite?
• Will Derek ever choose to leave the spotlight out of his own volition, or will I have to take matters into my own hands and hack his social accounts?

Some stray sequins:

• Nothing needs to be said other than two important words: HEATHER. HEADLEY.

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