The upcoming season of the long-running dance competition kicks off with a fresh cast of celebrities, from Olympic athletes to reality stars and viral sensations.
A new group of celebrities is heading to the ballroom as “Dancing With the Stars” returns for its 34th season — and the internet wasted no time reacting to the newly revealed lineup.
As reported by ABC News, the full cast was revealed on Wednesday during an appearance on “Good Morning America.” The season premieres Tuesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
This season’s cast includes Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, actor Corey Feldman, television personality Danielle Fishel, and author and wellness figure Hilaria Baldwin. Also competing are former NBA All-Star Baron Davis, singer Lauren Jauregui, comedian Andy Richter, and actress Elaine Hendrix, known for her role in the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap.”
Additional contestants include digital creator Dylan Efron, social media personality Alix Earle, and wildlife advocate Robert Irwin, the younger brother of former “DWTS” champion Bindi Irwin.
Rounding out the cast are Grammy-winning Pentatonix member Scott Hoying and reality television participants Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt, featured on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
The cast announcement drew a variety of responses on Reddit, with some fans excited and others raising questions. “Unless he’s a terrible dancer, Im [sic] predicting Robert Irwin for the win,” one Redditor wrote in support of the Australian conservationist.
Others questioned contestant eligibility. “Isn’t it cheating when Hilaria is a former competitive dancer?” one commenter asked, while another said, “Didn’t she claim to be a professional dancer so that would have disqualified her participation?”
Some viewers expressed surprise over familiar names joining the competition. “Why did I think Danielle Fishel had already done DWTS??? Regardless I was watching this season for Robert and now I’m definitely looking forward to more of these pairings!” one fan posted.
Each celebrity will be partnered with a professional dancer, including returning pros Val Chmerkovskiy, Emma Slater, Witney Carson, and Mark Ballas. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as co-hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough resume their roles as judges.
