Julia Stiles Calls Out Andy Cohen on 'Dancing With the Stars' Over Past Remarks
Actress playfully addressed Bravo host's previous comments about her dancing abilities on the show.
Julia Stiles confronted Andy Cohen on Wednesday's episode of "Dancing With the Stars," referencing his past comments where he described her as "not the greatest dancer." Stiles, who recently made her debut on the 35th season of the show, discussed Cohen's remarks with her professional dance partner, Ezra Sosa, during rehearsals.
Cohen had made the comment on his "Radio Andy" show last year. "Can we all just agree that Julia Stiles is not the greatest dancer on the planet?" he had said.
Stiles shared with Sosa that the quote had been "imprinted in my brain." She expressed her intention to win the Mirrorball trophy and address Cohen directly, saying, "We're gonna win the Mirrorball, sit on Andy's couch, and be like, 'Hey.'"
Later that evening, Stiles and Sosa performed a quickstep to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5." They received a score of 18 out of 30. Judge Derek Hough also alluded to Cohen's comment during the show, defending Stiles and stating, "Andy Cohen, you can eat it!"
Sosa commented on the performance, "I definitely feel like when it comes to stuff like that, you put it out on the dance floor and that's exactly what she did." Stiles added that Cohen likely didn't expect her to hear his comments and called them a "cheap joke" that served as motivation. She extended an invitation to Cohen, saying, "Mr. Andy Cohen, respect, no hard feelings. You're welcome to come to the ballroom and thank you for the motivation." Sosa chimed in, "We'll get you a front row seat to quality dancing, darling."
During his own show "Watch What Happens Live" on Wednesday, Cohen addressed Stiles' remarks and offered an apology. "Julia, I am so sorry. I am the last person who should be giving anyone feedback on their dancing," he said. He then praised her performance, stating she "killed it" and wished her a "great run."
Stiles, known for her role in the 2001 film "Save the Last Dance," recently clarified that a body double was used for more demanding dance sequences in the movie. In a TikTok video, she and Sosa confirmed that she did not attend Juilliard, contrary to her character's storyline in "Save the Last Dance." Stiles told USA Today that she joined "Dancing With the Stars" because she "can't resist a challenge" and enjoys getting out of her comfort zone.
Following their performance, Stiles and Sosa advanced in the competition.