Former pro urges fans to ditch the cruelty and remember the dancers are real people — “Be better.”
Former Dancing with the Stars pro Lindsay Arnold took to TikTok this week to defend the Season 34 cast after what she called a wave of unnecessarily harsh “hot takes” following the show’s premiere.
Though Arnold—who last competed in Season 30—is not on the ballroom floor this season, she said her connection to the show runs deep and watching fans and commentators relentlessly tear into the pros, troupe, hosts and judges made her genuinely upset.
In the video Arnold explained she’s seen it all: viral clips and comments trashing virtually every professional and production choice. She pushed back on the idea that the show and its performers exist as characters to be mercilessly critiqued, drawing a contrast with scripted dramas like The Summer I Turned Pretty. “This isn’t some made-up TV show… These are real people,” she said, imploring critics to remember performers have lives and feelings off-camera.
She repeatedly challenged detractors with a blunt dare: if you think you can do it better, go try—because the work is far harder than outsiders imagine.
Arnold’s message carried a personal edge. She noted her close ties to many people involved in the show, including her younger sister Rylee, who is competing this season alongside Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying. That family connection, she said, made the barrage of online negativity especially painful.
Calling the job of a professional dancer “one of the hardest ever,” Arnold urged viewers to temper their commentary and avoid seeking out opportunities to bash individuals.
While acknowledging that it’s fine to have opinions about performances, Arnold drew a firm line at targeted cruelty. She closed the video by asking fans to “be better,” and even invited anyone intent on throwing shade to direct it at her instead—she can handle it.
Her candid defense underscores an ongoing conversation around online criticism and the human impact of social media commentary on reality-TV participants.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, simulcast on Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu.