Rylee Arnold is addressing her future on Dancing with the Stars.
Recently, there’s been a lot of speculation on social media that the 20-year-old pro dancer won’t be coming back for season 35 of the ABC dance competition series, which hasn’t officially been picked up yet.
While appearing on Julianne Hough‘s The Morning After Show on Thursday (November 20), Rylee reacted to the speculation.
Keep reading to find out more…“I definitely feel pressure, [and] I think every single dance I’m [choreographing] has to be good. I feel like I have to present myself,” Rylee explained. “There’s been a lot of things this year [and] people saying I’m not coming back next season … or people saying I don’t know how to teach or do these things.”
“I’m trying to understand that [is] just noise,” she added.
Rylee was partnered with Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying for season 34 and has faced a lot of criticism about whether she was equipped to teach him how to professionally dance. Since they were eliminated so early in the season, many have speculated that Rylee won’t be returning for next season.
“We don’t know if we’re gonna be on the show until the summertime,” Rylee said. “I would absolutely love to do another season — if not a bunch of more seasons — if they want me there. I think hearing that noise from [different] sources that probably aren’t even true is super, super hard.”
She also admitted that dealing with all of the online criticism this season has been difficult for her.
“I [am] just trying to give myself grace and know that I’m growing,” Rylee said. “I am in my own position, and there are so many pros [who] have been here way longer than I have. Of course, they know more than I do [and] they have experience way more than I have, which is so normal.”
She went on to say that she isn’t comparing herself to other pros that have been on the show much longer than her (Rylee joined DWTS for season 32 in 2023, months after she graduated high school.)
“[I am] just staying in my lane, doing the very best I can,” Rylee said. “I think that’s the most important part. I just try to remember that I am living a dream that I’ve had since I was a little girl, and I’m so grateful that I’m in the position I’m in.”
She added, “I’m going to look back one day, and I’m not going to focus on what other people have said. I’m going to focus on the fact that I was so genuinely happy in this moment and just so proud of what I was doing.”
As for the criticism she’s faced, Rylee said, “There have been so many opinions and other things. Yeah, we are in the position to get that because we’re putting out our choreography and our work every single week for people to judge, but it’s definitely [had a] toll on me this year, but at the same time, I think it’s fueled me. I’m still learning, and I feel like I have done a lot these past three seasons.”
“I have put my best foot forward each and every season,” she continued. “I have learned so much from past pros on the seasons now. I’m still learning, but it’s also exciting to me and I love it.”
The Dancing with the Stars season 34 finale airs on Tuesday night, November 25 at 8pm ET on ABC and will be available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. See which five couples are still in the competition!
Source: justjared.com
