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Dancing With the Stars contestants Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson say they are friends and have cleared the air after Olson apologized for a social media comment. The comment praised another dancer’s performance in a way that fans interpreted as a slight against Rodriguez.
Dancing With the Stars contestants Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson have said they are friends after Olson apologized for a social media comment that fans perceived as disrespectful to Rodriguez. Rodriguez told TV Insider on Tuesday that the pair are competing against each other but are enjoying the show together; Olson also described them as friends.
“We’re friends,” Rodriguez said to TV Insider. “We’re competing against each other, but we’re friends. We’re having fun. He’s a good guy.” Olson, an infielder with the Savannah Bananas, confirmed to the outlet that the friendship is genuine. Their comments followed Olson’s apology, posted on Instagram earlier Tuesday.
Olson apologized to Rodriguez and to people upset by the remark, writing that he was sorry “from the bottom of my heart” for the comment and the negativity it caused. His post included a video of the two dancing together to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana. The caption said, “I love this guy,” and urged them to focus on what the show is meant to be about: dancing.
The controversy began with a since-deleted comment under a TikTok video posted the previous week by the Banana Ball team Loco Beach Coconuts. The clip showed player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez had performed earlier in the season with professional partner Witney Carson. Olson reportedly wrote, “How did you do this better than him with 2 hours of rehearsal.” Fans criticized the comparison as disrespectful to Rodriguez.
DWTS · Contestant update
Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson Confirm They’re Friends
After a social media comment drew criticism, Olson apologized. Both contestants say they have cleared the air and remain friends while competing on Dancing With the Stars.
How the dispute unfolded
A dance comparison sparked criticism; a private conversation and public apology followed.
A dance recreation appears
A TikTok video showed Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez had performed with Witney Carson.
A comparison draws backlash
Olson reportedly said Ostberg did it better despite having only two hours of rehearsal. Fans called the comparison disrespectful.
They clear the air
Olson said he spoke with Rodriguez in his trailer for about 30 minutes. The comment was later deleted.
Both describe a friendship
Olson apologized on Instagram, and both contestants publicly said they are friends.
An apology and a clear message
The exchange became a public clarification from the two people at its center.
Friends, even as rivals
Rodriguez said they are competing against each other, having fun on the show, and that Olson is “a good guy.” His comments confirm how he describes their relationship now.
An apology to Rodriguez and viewers
Olson said he was sorry “from the bottom of my heart” for his comment and the negativity it caused. His post included a video of them dancing to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana.
“I love this guy.”
Olson’s Instagram caption“We’ve gotten close on the show.”
Olson to TV InsiderWhat the public comments establish
The contestants’ statements clarify their current public position, while leaving some details unknown.
Confirmed: Both men say they are friends, and Olson apologized. Rodriguez says they are enjoying the competition together.
Olson’s account: He said he visited Rodriguez’s trailer and they talked for about 30 minutes. Rodriguez did not share further details of that private conversation.
Not established in the reporting: Olson’s precise intent when he made the comparison, every fan’s response to the apology, or any formal action by the show.
Keep the distinction in view: They are competitors on the show, but both describe their relationship as friendly.
Key questions
The reported facts, in brief.
Are Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson friends?
Yes. Rodriguez told TV Insider, “We’re friends,” and Olson also confirmed their friendship.
Why did Olson apologize?
Fans criticized his comment comparing Ostberg’s recreation of Rodriguez’s dance with the original performance.
What did Olson write?
He reportedly asked how Ostberg did the dance better with only two hours of rehearsal. The comment was later deleted.
Are they still competing?
Yes. Rodriguez said they are competing against each other while remaining friends.
An Apology Settles the DWTS Dispute
The exchange matters because it turns a social media dispute involving two contestants into a public clarification from both people at its center. Rodriguez and Olson each say there is no bad blood, while Olson’s apology acknowledges that his comment upset viewers, even if the reported wording was framed as praise for Ostberg’s performance.
The contestants’ response also places the disagreement back within the competition: they are rivals on the show, but say their relationship is friendly. That distinction may reassure viewers who took the comment as evidence of personal hostility. It does not establish how every fan has received the apology, but it clarifies how Rodriguez and Olson describe their own relationship.
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How the Dance Comparison Drew Criticism
The incident followed a TikTok clip featuring Erik Ostberg recreating Rodriguez and Carson’s dance. Olson’s comment compared the two performances by saying Ostberg had done the dance better despite having only two hours of rehearsal. Fans interpreted the comparison as an insult to Rodriguez, and the remark was later deleted.
After the criticism, Olson told TV Insider he had spoken with Rodriguez privately. He said he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and they talked for about 30 minutes, then agreed to clear the air and show people that they were not being malicious toward one another. Olson also said he had loved Rodriguez since they met and that they had grown close on the show. Those statements are Olson’s account of their conversation; Rodriguez’s own comments separately confirmed that he considers Olson a friend.
““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
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What the Public Comments Establish
The public statements establish that both contestants describe themselves as friends and that Olson apologized. They do not explain precisely what Olson intended when he made the comparison, beyond his apology and later comments, or how Rodriguez felt before their private conversation. The account of their 30-minute talk comes from Olson; no further details of the conversation were given.
It is also unclear whether the contestants or the show will address the episode further. The available reporting does not describe any formal action by the program, nor does it say whether the deleted comment remains accessible elsewhere. Fan reactions may continue, but the extent of any ongoing response is not established.
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The Competition Continues on DWTS
Rodriguez and Olson remain contestants on Dancing With the Stars, and both have presented the dispute as resolved between them. Olson’s apology asked viewers to return their attention to the purpose of the program: dancing. No additional statement or show-related response was announced in the reporting.
The next development is likely to come through the contestants’ continued participation in the competition, or through any further comments they choose to make. For now, the confirmed public position is that they are competing against each other while maintaining a friendship.
Source: Los Angeles Times
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Key Questions
Are Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson friends?
Yes. Rodriguez told TV Insider, “We’re friends,” and Olson also confirmed to the outlet that they are truly friends.
Why did Jackson Olson apologize?
Olson apologized after a comment comparing a recreation of Rodriguez’s dance with another performance drew criticism from fans. The comment was made under a TikTok video and was later deleted.
What did Olson say about the dance?
Olson reportedly asked how Erik Ostberg had done the dance better than Rodriguez with only two hours of rehearsal. Fans viewed the comparison as disrespectful to Rodriguez.
Did Rodriguez respond to the apology?
Rodriguez told TV Insider that he and Olson are friends, are having fun while competing, and that Olson is a good guy. He did not provide further details about their private conversation.
Are Rodriguez and Olson still competing against each other?
Yes. Rodriguez said they are competing against each other on Dancing With the Stars while remaining friends.
Source: Los Angeles Times
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