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Rylee Arnold Defends DWTS Role Amidst Backlash
30 Aug
Summary
- Rylee Arnold faced backlash after her DWTS: The Next Pro appearance.
- AJ Pritchard's fiancée accused Arnold of injuring him during rehearsals.
- Several DWTS colleagues publicly supported Rylee Arnold.
Dancing With the Stars pro Rylee Arnold recently expressed gratitude for her support system after encountering backlash stemming from her participation in DWTS: The Next Pro semifinals. Arnold, 21, posted a TikTok video on Friday, August 27, with a caption thanking her fans.
The controversy arose from Arnold's comments to judges regarding her partner AJ Pritchard, 31, during rehearsals. Arnold stated that Pritchard was overly critical without providing positive feedback.
In response, Pritchard's fiancée, Zara Zoffany, 32, publicly criticized Arnold on social media. Zoffany alleged that Arnold injured Pritchard during rehearsals, causing a mild concussion. Zoffany suggested Pritchard's critiques were necessary due to issues in their performance.
Several colleagues from Dancing With the Stars have since rallied to Arnold's defense. Ezra Sosa, 25, passionately defended Arnold on Instagram, calling her qualified and experienced. Shirley Ballas, a judge on The Next Pro, also issued a statement asserting that Arnold "earned her place" through dedication and hard work.
Pritchard himself has not publicly addressed the situation. AJ Pritchard is a finalist to become a new DWTS pro, with the finale airing on Monday, August 31, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
