TL;DR
Get everyday essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Guillermo Rodriguez said he and fellow Dancing With the Stars contestant Jackson Olson remain friends after Olson apologized for a comment that drew criticism online. Olson said he regretted the comment and described their conversation as an effort to clear the air.
Guillermo Rodriguez said he and fellow Dancing With the Stars contestant Jackson Olson remain friends after Olson apologized for a social media comment that some viewers considered disrespectful. Rodriguez told TV Insider that the two are competing on the show but are having fun together, while Olson also said they are “truly friends.”
Olson, an infielder with the Savannah Bananas, posted an apology on Instagram earlier Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times. He addressed Rodriguez and people who had reacted to his comment, saying he was sorry both for what he wrote and for the negativity that followed. The post included video of Olson and Rodriguez dancing together to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.”
“I love this guy,” Olson wrote in the caption, adding that he wanted them to focus on what the show is meant to be about: dancing. He also addressed Rodriguez affectionately. The video and message offered a public gesture of reconciliation after the original comment circulated among fans.
Rodriguez, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! star, told TV Insider that he and Olson are friends despite competing against each other. Olson told the outlet that he had grown close to Rodriguez during the show and had visited his trailer for a conversation lasting about 30 minutes. Olson said they wanted to clear the air and show people they were not acting maliciously toward one another.
How the Apology Affected Their Partnership
The exchange matters because the comment concerned a performance by Rodriguez on a nationally televised competition, where contestants’ public interactions can become part of the show’s story. Fan criticism turned a remark about dance rehearsal into a discussion of whether Olson was belittling Rodriguez. Their direct statements now provide evidence that both contestants describe the relationship as friendly, rather than leaving the dispute defined only by social media reactions.
The apology and the two men’s comments also distinguish online interpretation from what the contestants say about their relationship. The comment was criticized by fans, but neither Rodriguez nor Olson described an ongoing personal feud. Their account suggests they addressed the issue privately before presenting a friendly public moment, although the details of their conversation have not been independently described.
For viewers, the immediate takeaway is that the controversy has not, according to the contestants, ended their friendship or stopped them from enjoying the competition. Their statements do not establish how every fan interpreted the exchange, but they clarify how the two people directly involved characterize it.
Dancing With the Stars dance shoes
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Comment Behind the Apology
The dispute began with a TikTok video posted last week by the Loco Beach Coconuts, a Banana Ball team. The video showed player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance that Rodriguez and his professional partner, Witney Carson, had performed earlier in the DWTS season.
Olson reportedly commented on Ostberg’s version, asking how the player had done it better than Rodriguez with two hours of rehearsal. The comment was later deleted. Fans on social media objected, interpreting the comparison as disrespectful toward Rodriguez. The available reporting does not establish that Olson intended to insult him; Olson subsequently apologized for the comment and for the negativity it caused.
Rodriguez and Olson are both contestants on the current season of Dancing With the Stars. Their status as competitors gave the remark a show-related context, but Olson’s explanation to TV Insider focused on their personal relationship: he said he had long admired Rodriguez and that the two had become close while working on the program.
“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
dance competition costume accessories
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
What the Comment Can’t Establish
The precise conversation between Rodriguez and Olson has not been made public beyond Olson’s description of a roughly 30-minute talk in Rodriguez’s trailer. Neither man has provided a detailed account of what was said during that conversation, and the reporting does not establish exactly how Rodriguez initially felt about the comment.
The original TikTok comment was deleted, and the available account reports its wording rather than providing further details about the surrounding exchange. Olson apologized, but there is no indication that he confirmed the fans’ interpretation that he meant to insult Rodriguez. The contestants’ statements establish that both now publicly describe themselves as friends; they do not show that every viewer accepted the apology or shared that interpretation.
dance floor lighting for performances
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Competition Continues on DWTS
Rodriguez and Olson are continuing as competitors on Dancing With the Stars, and their public comments indicate that they intend to keep the focus on the show rather than the dispute. No additional statement, disciplinary action, or change to either contestant’s participation was reported.
The next development for viewers is likely to come through the contestants’ appearances and performances on the program. For now, the confirmed update is limited: Olson apologized, the two spoke privately, and both have said their friendship remains intact. The Los Angeles Times reported the exchange on Oct. 7, 2026.
Source: Los Angeles Times
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What did Guillermo Rodriguez say about Jackson Olson?
Rodriguez told TV Insider that they are friends, even though they are competing against each other on Dancing With the Stars, and said they are having fun.
Why did Jackson Olson apologize?
Olson apologized for a social media comment comparing a dance by Erik Ostberg with Rodriguez’s performance. Fans criticized the remark as disrespectful, and Olson said he was sorry for the comment and the negativity it caused.
Did Rodriguez and Olson discuss the comment privately?
Olson told TV Insider that he visited Rodriguez’s trailer and they talked for about 30 minutes to clear the air. The details of that conversation have not been reported.
Are Rodriguez and Olson still competing on Dancing With the Stars?
Yes. The Los Angeles Times report describes them as contestants competing on the current season. It reported no change to either contestant’s participation following the apology.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
