✨ Let’s get into it ✨
⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
Andy Cohen really tried to shade Julia Stiles’ dancing skills, but she turned that disrespect into pure ballroom magic on DWTS! He finally had to backtrack and apologize on air after the judges and fans absolutely ate him alive.
📑 Quick Jump
The ballroom drama has officially arrived, and we are living for it. Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars has barely started, but celebrity contestant Julia Stiles is already coming for Andy Cohen’s neck after he claimed she wasn’t actually that good at dancing. The tension peaked during the second episode of the season premiere when Stiles used his shade as her personal motivation to join the competition.
A Very Public Callout
Stiles didn’t hold back when talking to her pro partner, Ezra Sosa, about why she decided to sign up for the show. She revealed that Cohen’s comments were “imprinted in my brain,” prompting Sosa to jokingly refer to the Bravo icon as “that diva.” This all stems from a September 2025 episode of Radio Andy, where Cohen was chatting with Kerry Washington—who starred alongside Stiles in the 2001 classic Save the Last Dance. During that convo, Washington immediately defended her former co-star, but Cohen still asked if everyone could just agree that Julia Stiles is not the greatest dancer on the planet? It was such a swing and miss, especially since Stiles literally played a ballerina in that iconic film.
💫 Julia Stiles is not the greatest dancer on the planet?
Making Amends on Air
After performing a quickstep to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” the judges immediately jumped to Stiles’ defense. Derek Hough even went full savage mode, telling her, “Andy Cohen, you can eat it.” The energy shifted after the episode aired when Cohen issued an apology to the actress during the September 17 episode of Watch What Happens Live. He admitted he was the last person who should be giving anyone dance feedback and told her she absolutely killed it.
He didn’t stop there, either; he basically invited the entire internet to come for him, saying this “diva” gives everyone permission to flood his inbox with things they hate about him. While we love a redemption arc, seeing Stiles turn shade into a successful ballroom performance is the ultimate main character move. She proved she belongs on that floor, regardless of what Andy thinks.
Do you think Andy was just joking around, or was the callout actually uncalled for?
❓ People Also Ask
Why did Julia Stiles decide to compete on Dancing with the Stars?
Julia Stiles joined the competition as a way to use Andy Cohen's criticism as personal motivation. During a conversation with her professional partner, Ezra Sosa, she revealed that Cohen's previous comments about her dancing abilities were imprinted in her brain. Rather than letting the shade discourage her, she used the tension to fuel her drive to perform on the ballroom floor during the season 35 premiere.
How did Andy Cohen apologize to Julia Stiles for his comments?
Andy Cohen issued a public apology to the actress during an episode of Watch What Happens Live on September 17. He admitted that he was likely the last person who should be providing dance feedback to anyone and praised her performance by saying she absolutely killed it. To further make amends, he jokingly invited his viewers to flood his inbox with things they dislike about him.
What caused the initial tension between Andy Cohen and Julia Stiles?
The tension began during a September 2025 episode of Radio Andy when Cohen questioned Julia Stiles' dancing skills. While discussing the film Save the Last Dance with Kerry Washington, Cohen asked if everyone could agree that Stiles is not the greatest dancer on the planet. This comment was particularly controversial because Stiles famously played a ballerina in that iconic movie, leading to a public callout on Dancing with the Stars.
What was the reaction from the Dancing with the Stars judges regarding Andy Cohen?
The judges reacted strongly in defense of Julia Stiles following her quickstep performance to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. Judge Derek Hough was particularly vocal about the situation, telling the actress that Andy Cohen could eat it. This support from the judging panel helped shift the energy of the episode after the tension surrounding Cohen's previous comments became a central part of the ballroom drama.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: StyleCaster