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Dancing With the Stars contestant Jackson Olson apologized after a deleted comment about Guillermo Rodriguez’s dancing sparked controversy online. Olson said he spoke with Rodriguez in person and that they are fine; a later TikTok joked about being “canceled” amid other setbacks.
Jackson Olson joked about being “canceled” in an Oct. 11 TikTok after a deleted comment criticizing Guillermo Rodriguez’s dancing sparked online backlash. The Dancing With the Stars contestant had apologized on Oct. 6 and said he and Rodriguez had spoken in person and were on good terms.
Olson’s TikTok showed his professional dance partner, Emma Slater, leaving a rehearsal studio with her boyfriend and fellow pro, Alan Bersten. The clip used a song from High School Musical 2, while text on screen read: “When your dance partner has to leave you for her boyfriend.”
In the caption, Olson linked that moment to other recent disappointments: “First I get canceled, then we lose the Banana Bowl and now this?!” The Savannah Bananas player was referring to the team’s Oct. 11 loss to the Texas Tailgaters in the inaugural Banana Bowl championship. The post presented his remark about being canceled as self-deprecating humor; it does not establish how widely criticism spread or whether the backlash has continued.
The controversy began after Olson commented under a video of another athlete recreating a dance by Rodriguez and his partner, Witney Carson. According to the report, the since-deleted comment read: “Seriously how did you do this better than him with 2 hours of rehearsal.” Olson later apologized publicly and said he took responsibility for the negativity his remark caused.
The Apology Behind Olson’s Joke
The TikTok connects a brief joke to a more consequential development: Olson’s public apology and his account of speaking directly with Rodriguez. In a reality-competition setting where contestants perform in front of an audience and interact publicly, comments about another participant’s ability can quickly become part of the conversation around the show.
At the same time, the available account does not quantify the response or establish a lasting impact on either contestant. Olson’s post is evidence that he referred to being “canceled”; it is not, by itself, proof of the scale or persistence of the criticism. His description of the conversation with Rodriguez offers his account of their relationship, while Rodriguez’s response is reported through Olson rather than a separate statement from Rodriguez.
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How the Dance Comment Spread
Olson and Rodriguez are both members of the season 35 cast of Dancing With the Stars. Olson competes with Slater, while Rodriguez dances with Carson. The reported comment appeared beneath a video featuring another athlete performing a version of Rodriguez and Carson’s dance.
On Oct. 6, Olson posted an apology on TikTok: “To G and to all of you, I am truly sorry that my comment I made the other day caused this much unnecessary negativity. I never meant for it to do that and I take full ownership and I love this guy. Now let’s do what this show is meant to be about: DANCE.” He also said the two had cleared the air face to face.
Olson told E! News that he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and they spoke for about 30 minutes. Olson recalled telling him he had meant nothing by the comment, and said Rodriguez replied: “Dude, I know. It’s totally fine.” The reported exchange places Olson’s Oct. 11 joke after the apology and conversation, rather than as his first response to the criticism.
“I am truly sorry that my comment I made the other day caused this much unnecessary negativity.”
— Jackson Olson, in a TikTok apology posted Oct. 6
What the Public Response Shows
The report does not provide a measure of how many people criticized Olson, how long the reaction lasted or whether it affected the contestants’ standing on the show. It also does not include a direct comment from Rodriguez about the deleted remark or the in-person conversation. Olson’s account is the available description of Rodriguez’s response.
It is also unclear whether Olson’s “canceled” wording referred to a specific incident or was simply a joking description of the criticism. The Oct. 11 video does not announce a further dispute, and the information provided does not establish any formal action by the show or its producers.
The Contest Continues on DWTS
Olson and Rodriguez remain identified as contestants in the season 35 cast, partnered with Emma Slater and Witney Carson, respectively. The reported next development is their continued participation in the competition; no disciplinary action, additional response or change to their status is described.
Further clarity could come from a direct statement by Rodriguez or from later comments by either contestant. Until then, the confirmed sequence is limited: Olson made and deleted the comment, apologized on Oct. 6, described a conversation with Rodriguez, and posted the self-deprecating TikTok on Oct. 11.
Key Questions
What did Jackson Olson say about Guillermo Rodriguez?
Olson posted a since-deleted comment asking how another athlete had performed a dance better than Rodriguez after two hours of rehearsal. The comment was reported as a jab at Rodriguez’s dancing.
Did Jackson Olson apologize?
Yes. In a TikTok posted Oct. 6, Olson apologized for causing “unnecessary negativity,” said he took responsibility and expressed affection for Rodriguez.
Did Olson and Rodriguez resolve the disagreement?
Olson said he visited Rodriguez’s trailer and spoke with him for about 30 minutes. Olson recalled Rodriguez saying, “Dude, I know. It’s totally fine.” The report does not include a separate statement from Rodriguez.
Why did Olson mention being canceled?
In an Oct. 11 TikTok caption, Olson joked about being criticized, the Savannah Bananas’ loss to the Texas Tailgaters in the inaugural Banana Bowl championship, and Slater leaving rehearsal with Bersten. The report does not quantify the online backlash.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
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