Julia Stiles Calls 'DWTS' Partner a 'Cranky Bitch' After Heated Rehearsal

Julia Stiles playfully referred to her "Dancing With the Stars" partner, Ezra Sosa, as a "cranky bitch" following a tense rehearsal session leading up to Tuesday's "Horror Movie Night" performance. The pair were preparing an Argentine tango to music from the 1976 horror film "The Omen" when tensions escalated.

During a rehearsal package, Sosa informed Stiles that he would be particularly demanding due to the demanding nature of the dance style and the fact that other competitors were also performing it. "Be prepared," he advised the actress.

As they practiced, Stiles appeared overwhelmed by Sosa's critiques, which included corrections on "no heel leads." "I just don't respond well to frustration," Stiles told Sosa. "What gets the best work out of me is to not be like, 'You're doing it wrong! You're just doing this, and you're just doing that!'"

In a confessional, Sosa, 25, acknowledged that he had been "being too hard" on Stiles. He explained his approach: "I want to push her because I know her excellence. I know what she can bring to the table. And I just don't want her to be disappointed when we perform this routine."

Sosa later apologized to Stiles in the rehearsal studio, admitting he had been "pushing too far." Stiles responded by telling him he didn't need to apologize and that she could handle the critiques. "I love you. You don't have to apologize," she said. "I think you need to get more sleep, because you're a cranky bitch when you're tired."

Sosa agreed, stating, "I'm just tired."

The dancing duo ultimately received a score of 26 out of 40 from the judges for their "Horror Movie Night" routine. Despite the challenges during rehearsals, Stiles and Sosa were not eliminated, as Tyler Cameron and Jackson Olson were sent home in a double elimination.

New episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.