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Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson say they remain friends after Olson apologized for a social media comment that fans viewed as disrespectful to Rodriguez. Olson said the two had spoken privately, and he shared a video of them dancing together.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson say there is no bad blood between them after Olson apologized for a social media comment about Rodriguez’s dancing that drew criticism from fans. Rodriguez, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! star, told TV Insider on Tuesday that the two are friends and are enjoying competing on Dancing With the Stars.
“We’re friends,” Rodriguez told 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, also told the outlet that he and Rodriguez are “truly friends.” Their comments followed Olson’s public apology earlier Tuesday.
Olson posted the apology on Instagram alongside a video of himself and Rodriguez dancing to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana. He wrote that he was sorry to Rodriguez and to others for his comment and for the negativity it caused. The caption added, “I love this guy,” and urged viewers to focus on dancing, in keeping with the show’s premise.
The dispute began with a comment Olson reportedly left beneath a TikTok video posted last week by Banana Ball team Loco Beach Coconuts. The clip showed player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez and his professional partner, Witney Carson, had performed earlier in the season. Olson praised Ostberg’s version, asking how he had done it better than Rodriguez with two hours of rehearsal. The comment was later deleted; fans had criticized it as disrespectful to Rodriguez.
Dancing With the Stars · Update
Where Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson Stand After Their DWTS Apology
Both contestants say they are friends after Olson apologized for a comment about Rodriguez’s dancing that drew criticism from fans. Their public message: the issue has been addressed, and the competition continues.
How the story unfolded
A dance comparison became a public talking point, followed by an apology and a joint video from the two contestants.
A dance recreation
Loco Beach Coconuts shared Erik Ostberg recreating a routine Rodriguez and Witney Carson performed.
A comparison
Olson praised Ostberg’s version and asked how he did it better after two hours of rehearsal. The comment was later deleted.
Fans objected
Some fans viewed the remark as disrespectful to Rodriguez, bringing the exchange wider attention.
A public reset
Olson apologized on Instagram alongside a video of the pair dancing to “Nobody’s Perfect.”
What each man said
Their statements describe a friendly relationship, while Olson acknowledged that his comment caused negativity.
“We’re friends.”
Rodriguez said they are enjoying the competition and described Olson as “a good guy.”
“We’re truly friends.”
Olson said he had long liked Rodriguez and that they had grown close during the show.
“I am so sorry.”
He apologized to Rodriguez and others for the comment and the negativity it caused, adding, “I love this guy.”
The apology and the private talk
Olson said the two spoke before sharing a friendly image publicly. The details of that conversation have not been reported.
“I went into his trailer and we talked for 30 minutes.”
Jackson Olson · TV Insider
“To G and to all of you, from the bottom of my heart I am so sorry about my comment.”
Jackson Olson · Instagram apology
What is confirmed—and what remains open
The reported account establishes an apology and a shared description of friendship. It does not answer every question about the incident.
Olson apologized; Rodriguez called Olson a friend; and Olson said they spoke privately to clear the air. The pair also appeared together in a dance video.
The exact timing and details of their private conversation were not shared.
It is unclear how fans’ views changed after the apology and video.
No reported show statement or change to either contestant’s participation.
Key questions
The available update points to a resolved personal exchange, with no reported effect on the competition.
What did Olson apologize for?
A social media comment comparing Ostberg’s recreation of a dance with Rodriguez’s earlier performance. Fans criticized it as disrespectful.
Did they speak privately?
Olson said he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and they talked for about 30 minutes. Details were not reported.
Where was the apology posted?
On Instagram, alongside a video of Olson and Rodriguez dancing to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana.
Has participation changed?
No reported information indicates that the comment or apology changed either contestant’s participation in Dancing With the Stars.
The Apology Reframes Their Rivalry
The exchange matters because a brief online remark became a public disagreement around contestants who are also competing on the same television show. Fans’ reaction made the comment a larger story, but both men have since described their relationship as friendly. Rodriguez’s response and Olson’s apology offer direct evidence of how each wants the episode understood: as a misstep that has been addressed, not an ongoing feud.
Olson also described a private conversation with Rodriguez. He told TV Insider that he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and they talked for about 30 minutes, with the aim of clearing the air and showing viewers they were not acting maliciously toward one another. That account comes from Olson; no further details about the private discussion were reported. The public video of the pair dancing gives fans a visible sign of their attempt to move on, but it does not establish how every viewer interpreted the incident.
For the show, the episode illustrates how contestants’ social media activity can spill into the on-screen competition and shape audience discussion. Here, the people involved have both said they are friends, while the comment itself remains a separate matter that Olson acknowledged and apologized for.
dancing with the stars professional dance shoes
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How the TikTok Comment Spread
The comment was posted under a video from Loco Beach Coconuts, a Banana Ball team, featuring Erik Ostberg recreating a routine from Rodriguez and Carson’s season performance. Olson’s remark compared the two dances and praised Ostberg’s version after two hours of rehearsal. The wording prompted some fans to take offense on Rodriguez’s behalf.
Olson’s comment was subsequently deleted. His apology appeared on Instagram on Tuesday, alongside the dance video with Rodriguez. In comments to TV Insider after apologizing, Olson said he had long liked Rodriguez and that they had grown close during the show. He also said the two spoke privately before presenting a friendly public image together. Rodriguez’s own statement to the outlet confirmed that he considers Olson a friend.
The available account identifies the comment, the fan response, the apology and the two contestants’ statements. It does not describe any formal action by the show or indicate that the incident changed their standing in the competition.
““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
What the Public Account Leaves Open
The reported accounts do not provide the exact timing of the private conversation beyond Olson’s description, or a fuller account of what either man said during it. Olson said the pair wanted to clear the air, but the details of that discussion remain private. It is also unclear how widely fans’ views changed after the apology and joint dance video.
No reported statement from Dancing With the Stars addresses the incident, and there is no indication that it affected the competition or the contestants’ participation. The available information establishes that Olson apologized, Rodriguez accepted the friendly framing in his remarks, and both said they are friends; it does not speak for viewers who criticized the comment.
The Competition Continues
For now, Rodriguez and Olson have presented the matter as addressed and have returned attention to the show. Their next public appearances and performances on Dancing With the Stars may show whether the incident continues to draw discussion, but no additional response or formal follow-up has been announced in the reported statements.
The immediate next step is the contestants’ ongoing participation in the competition. Unless either man or the show offers further comment, the clearest confirmed update remains their shared message: Olson apologized, and both contestants say they are friends.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Key Questions
What did Jackson Olson apologize for?
Olson apologized for a social media comment comparing Erik Ostberg’s recreation of a dance with Guillermo Rodriguez’s earlier performance. Fans criticized Olson’s remark as disrespectful to Rodriguez.
What did Guillermo Rodriguez say about Olson?
Rodriguez told TV Insider that they are friends, are having fun competing against one another and that Olson is a good guy.
Did Olson and Rodriguez speak privately?
Olson told TV Insider that he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and they talked for about 30 minutes. The details of their conversation have not been reported.
Where did Olson post his apology?
Olson posted it on Instagram on Tuesday, alongside a video of himself and Rodriguez dancing to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana.
Has the incident affected their DWTS participation?
No reported information indicates that the comment or apology changed either contestant’s participation in the competition.
Source: Los Angeles Times
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