Dancing With the Stars producers are constantly sidestepping online rumors.
Because when it comes to the ABC dancing competition series, fans have speculated if the winners are predetermined or “fixed.” But as soon as Ryan O’Dowd—BBC Studios’ President of Unscripted TV as well as a producer on the show—got wind of the speculation, he immediately shut the notion down.
“We take that very seriously,” O’Dowd told Deadline of the theories in an interview published May 27. “We have never, nor would we ever do anything to manipulate the votes.”
“The show really needs to be credible,” he continued. “It needs to allow the viewers to have a voice and to really be the voice of who deserves to win. So, we have never, nor would we ever want to manipulate that in any way.”
From the onstage romances to the killer dance moves, the executive producer made it absolutely clear that authenticity is a main priority in creating the show. Which means that when Bachelor star Joey Graziadei and pro partner Jenna Johnson emerged as the winners of season 33 in November, it was absolutely deserved.
And now, as the next season of Dancing With the Stars quickly approaches, a few of the highly anticipated celebrity contestants have already been announced.
Indeed, the network revealed last month that Australian heartthrob and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin—the son of the late Steve Irwin and his wife Terri Irwin—will soon be joining the reality series.
“I am over the moon to be joining Dancing With the Stars this season,” Robert—whose sister Bindi Irwin won the season 21 Mirrorball Trophy alongside partner Derek Hough in 2015—admitted to E! News in April. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m ready to hit the ballroom. Let’s go, let’s do this.”
“I don’t know how my dance moves are but I’m gonna give it 110 percent anyway,” he continued, adding that any new project is an opportunity to “really bring it back to the central message that we have which is conservation and protecting animals.”
Since it takes two to tango, the show’s second celebrity contestant was revealed just one month later. After having a bit of high school dancing experience, influencer Alix Earle was announced as the second celebrity who will be lacing up their dancing shoes this fall.
“I’ve always been a fan of Dancing with the Stars,” Alix said on Good Morning America earlier this month. “I used to watch it when I was so young with my grandma, and she would always say to me, ‘Maybe one day you could be on there.’”
“I was so in love with dance,” she added. “I’m ready to challenge myself, I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun. So it was a very obvious answer to say yes.”
Ahead of season 34, take a look back at who left it all on the dance floor during season 33…
Anna Delvey
The inspriation behind Inventing Anna traded her ankle bracelet for dancing shoes alongside partner Ezra Sosa. However, the fake heiress was eliminated during the season's Sept. 24 episode, with her saying that she learned "nothing" in her now-infamous, one-word farewell speech.
Ilona Maher
The Olympic rugby player was ready to ruck up the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten, finishing as the runner-up.
Chandler Kinney
The Disney Channel star tried to dance her way to the top with partner Brandon Armstrong and ultimately placed third.
Brooks Nader
The model and her partner Gleb Savchenko were ready to strut along the ballroom, but took their final bow on Oct. 15.
Reginald VelJohnson
All that mattered for the Family Matters alum and partner Emma Slater was taking home the Mirrorball Trophy. However, their journey was cut short during the second week of competition on Oct. 8.
Eric Roberts
The Dark Knight star was partnered with Britt Stewart. They were eliminated in the second week alongside Reginald and Emma.
Joey Graziadei
The Bachelor alum has found his rose between thorns in partner Jenna Johnson, winning season 33.
Tori Spelling
The alum of Beverly Hills, 90210 was oh so ready to dance alongside Pasha Pashkov. Unfortunately, the two last only one week and was cut from competition in a double elimination alongside Anna and Ezra.
Danny Amendola
The NFL pro and partner Witney Carson sure scored a touchdown on the dance floor, placing fifth in the finale.
Dwight Howard
The NBA star hoped to stand head and shoulders above the competition with partner Daniella Karagach, but was eliminated from the competition on Nov. 12.
Stephen Nedoroscik
The Olympian had his sights set on another medal—or should we say, Mirrorball Trophy—with partner Rylee Arnold, placing fourth in the Nov. 26 finale.
Phaedra Parks
The Traitors alum was sure to weed out the competition with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, but ended up getting cut from the lineup Oct. 22.
Jenn Tran
Though Bachelorette star and partner Sasha Farber were full bloom in the ballroom, they were eliminated from the competition on Oct. 29.