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Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson say they have cleared the air after Olson apologized for a social media comment that fans viewed as disrespectful. Both contestants described themselves as friends, and Olson posted a video of the two dancing together.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson say they remain friends after Olson apologized for a social media comment about Rodriguez’s dancing that drew criticism from fans. The two “Dancing With the Stars” contestants addressed the dispute publicly, with Olson sharing a video of them dancing together and Rodriguez telling TV Insider they were enjoying the competition.
Rodriguez, known for his work on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, told TV Insider on Tuesday: “We’re friends.” He added that although they are competing against each other, they are having fun and that Olson is a good guy. Olson also told the outlet that the pair are “truly friends.”
Earlier Tuesday, Olson posted an apology on Instagram to Rodriguez and to people who had reacted to his comment. “From the bottom of my heart I am so sorry about my comment I made the other day and that it caused this much negativity,” Olson wrote. His post included video of the two contestants dancing to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.” The caption said, “I love this guy,” and urged them to focus on dancing.
The controversy followed a comment Olson left under a TikTok video posted the previous week by Banana Ball team Loco Beach Coconuts. The video showed player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez and professional partner Witney Carson had performed on the show. Olson’s comment, which has since been deleted, praised Ostberg’s version while comparing it with Rodriguez’s rehearsal time. Fans objected, interpreting the remark as disrespectful toward Rodriguez.
A DWTS Apology Brings Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson Back to Friends
A social media comment drew criticism. After an apology and a private conversation, both contestants publicly said their friendship is intact—and shared a dance together.
From online comment to public reset
The disagreement began with a comparison of dance performances. The contestants later described the issue as resolved between them.
A dance recreation
Loco Beach Coconuts shared Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez performed with professional partner Witney Carson.
A comparison sparks backlash
Olson praised Ostberg’s version while comparing it with Rodriguez’s rehearsal time. Some fans viewed the remark as disrespectful.
An apology and a dance
Olson apologized on Instagram, said he had spoken with Rodriguez, and posted a video of them dancing to “Nobody’s Perfect.”
How the two cleared the air
The public timeline shows a deleted comment, a private conversation, and matching statements of friendship.
Comment posted
Olson comments beneath a TikTok dance recreation from the Banana Ball team.
Fans object
Some viewers criticize the comparison. The comment is later deleted; timing is not specified.
They talk privately
Olson says he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and they spoke for about 30 minutes.
Friendship affirmed
Olson apologizes publicly; both call each other friends as the competition continues.
Both say the friendship remains
The contestants’ own statements describe a friendly relationship alongside their on-show rivalry.
“We’re friends. We’re competing against each other, but we’re friends. We’re having fun. He’s a good guy.”
Guillermo Rodriguez · TV Insider
A resolved disagreement, with limits
The reporting establishes what the contestants said. Several details about the online reaction remain unavailable.
What the statements show
- Olson apologized for his comment and said he spoke privately with Rodriguez.
- Both contestants described themselves as friends.
- Olson shared a video of the two dancing together.
- No effect on scoring, rehearsals, or participation was reported.
What remains unclear
- When the TikTok comment was deleted, or the full surrounding discussion.
- How many people criticized Olson or how broadly the reaction spread.
- Whether online criticism has stopped.
- When the contestants will next appear together publicly.
The contest continues onstage
For now, the clearest update is straightforward: Olson apologized, Rodriguez and Olson affirmed their friendship, and they danced together. Both remain contestants on “Dancing With the Stars.”
A comment comparing Erik Ostberg’s dance recreation with Rodriguez’s performance.
Yes. Both contestants publicly said they are friends.
A video of the two dancing to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.”
No effect on their participation or the competition was reported.
The Apology Reframes Their Rivalry
The exchange matters because the original comment became a public dispute between contestants on a competition show, even though the two men’s own accounts now describe a friendly relationship. Olson’s apology and Rodriguez’s response offer a direct account from both people involved, rather than leaving fans to infer their relationship from a deleted comment and online reactions.
The episode also illustrates how a brief social media remark can attract attention beyond its original audience when it concerns a recognizable performer and a current television competition. In this case, the available statements point to a resolved personal disagreement, not an ongoing feud. That distinction is relevant to viewers following the contestants, but it does not establish how every fan interpreted the apology or whether the criticism has stopped.
For the show, both participants have publicly emphasized that they are competing while still getting along. Their statements keep attention on their performances and the program’s dance format rather than on a continuing personal conflict. There is no indication in the reporting that the disagreement changed the competition itself.
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The Comment Behind the Dispute
The disagreement began with a video posted last week by Loco Beach Coconuts, a Banana Ball team. Its clip featured Erik Ostberg performing a dance previously performed on “Dancing With the Stars” by Rodriguez and Carson. Olson commented that Ostberg had done it better despite having only two hours of rehearsal, according to the reporting.
The wording prompted some social media users to criticize Olson on Rodriguez’s behalf. The comment was later deleted. The available account does not say when it was removed or whether Olson deleted it before or after the backlash began. Olson subsequently apologized and said he had spoken privately with Rodriguez. He told TV Insider he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and that the two talked for about 30 minutes to clear the air.
Rodriguez and Olson are both contestants on the current season of “Dancing With the Stars.” Rodriguez is a late-night television personality, while Olson is an infielder associated with the Savannah Bananas. The apology and their joint dance video arrived as they continued to appear as competitors on the same show.
““We’re friends. We’re competing against each other, but we’re friends. We’re having fun. He’s a good guy.””
— Guillermo Rodriguez, speaking to TV Insider
What the Public Statements Leave Open
The statements establish that both contestants currently describe themselves as friends, but the reporting does not provide the full wording or surrounding discussion from the TikTok post beyond Olson’s quoted comment. The comment itself is no longer available on the platform, and the precise timing of its deletion is not stated.
It is also unclear how many people criticized Olson or how broadly the reaction spread. The account reports that fans took offense, but gives no audience or engagement figures. Neither contestant described any effect on the show’s scoring, rehearsals, or future participation. There is no reported indication that the disagreement has affected their standing in the competition.
The Contest Continues Onstage
Rodriguez and Olson remain fellow contestants on “Dancing With the Stars,” and their next public interactions are likely to be viewed in light of the apology. Both have said they are friends and are having fun competing; the reporting does not identify a specific upcoming appearance or episode as the next milestone in their reconciliation.
For now, the clearest development is that Olson apologized, Rodriguez accepted the public account of their friendship, and Olson shared video of the two dancing. Any further response from fans, or additional comments from either contestant, has not been reported.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Key Questions
What did Jackson Olson apologize for?
Olson apologized for a comment under a TikTok video that compared Erik Ostberg’s recreation of a “Dancing With the Stars” dance with Guillermo Rodriguez’s performance. The comment was later deleted.
Are Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson still friends?
Both say they are. Rodriguez told TV Insider they are friends despite competing against each other, and Olson described them as “truly friends.”
What did Olson post after apologizing?
Olson shared a video of himself and Rodriguez dancing to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.” His caption said he loved Rodriguez and called for them to focus on dancing.
Did the disagreement affect their participation in the show?
No effect on their participation or the competition was reported. Both were described as continuing as contestants on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Source: Los Angeles Times
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