Dancing with the Stars is entering its latest season amid reports of backstage friction, a last-minute casting change and renewed scrutiny of a contestant tied to long-standing allegations, according to the Daily Mail.
The show’s new cast includes Jordan Chiles, Hilaria Baldwin, Danielle Fishel, Robert Irwin, Elaine Hendrix, Corey Feldman and influencer Alix Earle, along with Scott Hoying, Jen Affleck, Andy Richter, Baron Davis and Whitney Leavitt. Season 34 is set to premiere live Sept. 16 on ABC and Disney+, with next-day availability on Hulu.
Several current and former show insiders told the Daily Mail that professional dancers have complained about partners they describe as "lazy" or insufficiently committed to the rehearsal process. One unnamed insider characterized the season as "a s**t show," saying some celebrities "don't want to put in the work." The comments reflect growing frustration among pros, according to the report, which said some feel demoralized when paired with celebrities they believe will not be competitive.
Corey Feldman, 54, drew attention earlier this month after his professional partner, Jenna Johnson, suggested on social media that he had been absent since the cast announcement on Sept. 3. Johnson, the 2024 champion, wrote in an Instagram reply to a fan that she had not seen Feldman "since Good Morning America," prompting questions about his participation. The Daily Mail reported that photos and a video posted days later showed Feldman and Johnson reuniting and beginning rehearsals.
The outlet also linked Feldman's moments of absence to renewed public attention on actor Charlie Sheen, following Sheen’s memoir and a related Netflix documentary. Feldman has previously accused Sheen of raping Feldman's friend, the late actor Corey Haim, on a film set in 1986 when Haim was 13; Sheen has denied the allegation. An unnamed source told the Daily Mail that Sheen-related coverage had been upsetting for Feldman.
Producers are said to have scrambled after one planned contestant failed to make final rehearsals. The Daily Mail reported that Jordon Hudson, a 24-year-old pageant competitor who has been publicly linked to football coach Bill Belichick, was in talks to join the season but dropped out amid negotiations over interviews, partner selection and scheduling. Hudson denied wanting the show to emphasize controversy, the outlet reported. According to the Daily Mail, Hudson’s exit prompted the late signing of Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui two days before the full cast was announced on Good Morning America.
Several insiders cited casting decisions they described as driven by office politics. One insider referenced Anna Delvey, the convicted fraudster who appeared on last year’s season with an ankle monitor, as an example of a controversial casting choice that some felt disadvantaged professional partners. The Daily Mail also reported that pro Ezra Sosa was paired with Jordan Chiles in part as a conciliatory move after a previous pairing.
Judge Derek Hough, speaking to the Daily Mail but declining to name the dropped contestant, said he was aware of a last-minute withdrawal and described the situation as potentially "a little messy." The outlet reported that some professionals praised Danielle Fishel and Elaine Hendrix as standouts while expressing disappointment in other pairings.
The reported turmoil arrives after Season 33’s finale drew its largest live same-day audience since 2021. Nielsen figures cited by the Daily Mail put the Season 33 finale at 6.36 million viewers live and rising to 7.95 million across seven days of viewing on ABC, Disney+, Hulu and other platforms.
ABC has not publicly commented on the Daily Mail’s reporting. Representatives for ABC, Jordon Hudson and Corey Feldman did not respond to requests for comment, the outlet said.
Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars is due to air live Sept. 16 on ABC and on Disney+, with episodes available next day on Hulu.