AJ Pritchard‘s fiancée’s feud with Rylee Arnold has taken a turn from backlash to apology.
The “DWTS: The Next Pro” contestant’s partner, Zara Zoffany, took a jab at the 21-year-old professional ballroom dancer online after she was paired with Pritchard during a guest appearance in the show’s semifinal episode.
AJ Pritchard’s fianceé’s comments sparked a lot of criticism, with many rising to Rylee Arnold’s defense. The diabetic dancer first appeared on “DWTS: Juniors” at the age of 13 before landing a spot on the main show’s pro lineup in 2023.
Zoffany took the high road after recently bringing down the heat over her fiancé’s partnering with Arnold. She took to social media to apologize for her earlier critiques of the pro dancer in the semifinal episode of “Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro.”
Dancing the cha-cha, Pritchard was paired with Arnold, who made a guest appearance on that episode. She later told the judges that she felt Pritchard was too critical during their rehearsals. Little did anyone know that Arnold’s remarks would be the spark that ignited the viral drama.
Zoffany said that she was overwhelmed by the “constant online videos” of her man where internet users raise dust over their relationship and his sexuality with overly negative comments.
“So when I got to the Riley edit, I was already up to here with how they’ve perceived him with the villain edit, with all the criticism, all the comments, all the TikToks,” she explained.
She went on in the TikTok video explaining that she never meant to imply Arnold was not a qualified dancer, stressing that she believes she “earned her spot on “DWTS.”
“So I just want to say, if you are watching this, Riley, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry if I made you feel like a certain type of way. That was never my intention,” Zoffany said.
What Did Zara Zoffany Say To Ignite The Feud?
After the semifinal episode aired, Zoffany made a lengthy comment addressing Arnold’s feedback to the judges on her partner. “[Rylee] — @aj11ace wouldn’t have had to critique you in the first place if everything had been right,” her comment began.
She went on to highlight that Pritchard had danced with social media influencer Bailey McKnight the previous week, who is “an amateur & their dance was amazing.”
As reported by US Weekly, Zoffany further alleged that Arnold hit her fiancé in the head during rehearsals, leaving him with a slight concussion that he even had to see a doctor for.
In Zoffany’s recent apology video, she mentioned that the message she wrote slamming the 21-year-old pro does not deserve the hate and death threats she has been receiving from online users.
‘DWTS’ Pro & Judge Stuck Up For Rylee Arnold
Arnold’s best friend and fellow pro, Ezra Sosa, fired back at Zoffany’s initial comment, writing that her claims made him “sick to his stomach.”
“Rylee is my best friend, I love her, and I will speak up for her. Rylee is more than qualified to be a pro, and one dance with a completely different partnership does not erase the years of training, talent, and work that earned her that title,” Sosa’s comment read.
He further described Arnold as an incredible dancer who holds high values like honesty and trust. One of the “DWTS: The Next Pro” judges, Shirley Ballas, also addressed the issue, sharing that the young pro-ballroom star had earned her place on the show through hard work and intense dedication to all dance styles.
Ballas warned against shaming other people after revealing that she has great respect for Arnold and her skills.
Inside The ‘DWTS: Junior’ Finalist’s Previous Stance On Online Negativity
In a last-year interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Arnold discussed the bright side of introducing TikTok night to the dance show and integrating social media influencers as stars on the show. During the interview, she was asked to pinpoint ways in which “TikTok has negatively impacted the show and competition.”
In response, Arnold said, “I don’t think there has been a negative impact.” She added that it has been fun so far to build a social media presence and get the younger demographic interested in watching the dances.
Arnold also touched on the ballroom dance critiques that pros receive from netizens about their choreography. She explained that they have to remember the show is designed for dances to be judged and scored. The pro dancer admitted that sometimes the criticism is hard to take, especially after a long day of giving it their all in rehearsals.
Nevertheless, they have to be professionals and not take things to heart or dive deep into the comments. Rather, Arnold advised that her fellow pros focus on the fun parts and enjoy their time on the dance floor.
Rylee Arnold Previously Thought Her Dance Career Was Over Before It Began
The Blast previously covered that Arnold opened up about a time when she thought she would not have a professional dance career. The fear stemmed from when she received her type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 15, just two years after her first TV appearance on “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors.”
She revealed that she was so scared to have to give up an important part of her life due to the health challenge. Fortunately, that was not the case, and the TV personality learned to adjust and find a healthy balance for her life.
Arnold disclosed that it took years for her to finally understand her body, including the way she reacts to certain things. Learning from other people battling the same health challenge through TikTok and other social media platforms was an added advantage for the dancer.
While she has many years of dancing ahead of her, Arnold took a step back from the “DWTS” tour last year to prioritize her health.
Will Rylee Arnold respond to AJ Pritchard’s fiancée’s apology?
