Think The Bachelorette Fans Can be Mean? It’s Nothing Compared To Dancing With The Stars, Says Charity Lawson

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Think The Bachelorette Fans Can be Mean? It's Nothing Compared To Dancing With The Stars, Says Charity Lawson

As a longtime gamer who’s seen my fair share of online communities, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the Dancing with the Stars fanbase takes the cake for sheer intensity and unbridled passion. I’ve spent countless hours in MMO worlds, battling it out in esports tournaments, and even dabbling in the dark arts of Reddit threads, but nothing quite prepares you for the vitriol that Charity Lawson faced during her time on DWTS.

In terms of television franchise fanbases, it’s challenging to think of one as dedicated and outspoken as Bachelor Nation. During each season of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, or any other spinoff, there’s no shortage of opinions, some positive and others less so. Interestingly, former Bachelorette Charity Lawson has had her most intense fan encounter with Dancing with the Stars Season 32 viewers, not in a favorable manner. She recently shared her experience with the online comments she received, barely a year after her DWTS season debuted.

I recently popped by Cheryl Burke’s “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast to share some insights about my journey on “Dancing with the Stars” alongside Artem Chigvintsev. While our partnership was a highlight for me, I felt compelled to discuss an issue that was less glamorous – the bullying I experienced from fans. Upon hearing my story, Cheryl described it as “shocking,” and I couldn’t agree more.

To tell you the truth, I wasn’t entirely taken aback. Yet, there’s a part of me that questions if it was really shocking. In my perspective, given the background from The Bachelorette, I thought I was prepared. After all, we all know the audience is quite conservative and tough. I thought, “I’ve got this. I’ve been through The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.”

Fans of Bachelor Nation had numerous comments about Charity Lawson’s stint as The Bachelorette, including questioning if she might have inadvertently revealed the finale outcome prematurely. It seems that her previous experience as a contestant in Season 27 of The Bachelor and then as the lead of The Bachelorette Season 20 didn’t shield her from the harsh criticism of the Dancing with the Stars audience.

I thoroughly enjoyed her stint on Dancing with the Stars and admired her weekly performances so much that I felt every Bachelor Nation fan should catch a glimpse of her dancing. However, it seems that her time on the show took a different turn than what viewers saw on screen, as evidenced by comments on social media. Lawson shed some light on the criticism she faced during her tenure.

As someone who has been through the tumultuous journey of reality television, I feel compelled to share my side of the story that has remained untold until now. You see, I was subjected to a level of treatment on that show that left me feeling like I had to choose between standing up for myself and preserving my peace. It was an ordeal that took place night after night, leaving me with emotional scars that still linger today.

In the end, Charity Lawson placed fourth on Season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Given all the challenges she faced and couldn’t openly discuss with anyone except Artem, it’s impressive that she persisted in dancing. She revealed to Cheryl Burke that “No one knew, not even the professionals,” about her struggles. Regrettably, despite hurtful comments from the official “DWTS” social media page, no action was taken. It’s not surprising that Lawson felt emotional while recounting this story to Burke.

Despite not having danced on DWTS under the same pressure as the former Bachelorette, Cheryl Burke, being a professional dancer for nearly every season since the second one (up until her departure before Season 32), is well-acquainted with the stress it entails. Recently left out of the emotional tribute dance in honor of Len Goodman’s memory, she expressed earlier this year that she felt her bond with the show wasn’t improving.

Luckily, this hasn’t prevented Charity Lawson from establishing ties with ex-celebrities and professional dancers on her podcast, such as former Saturday Night Live actor Chris Kattan, Damian Whitewood, Ashly DelGrosso, and Bethany Mota, to mention a few of the latest. As for Charity Lawson, you can rewatch her season of Dancing with the Stars by subscribing to Disney+.

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2024-07-31 07:07