TL;DR
Turn the school run and nap time into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson said they remain friends after Olson apologized for a social media comment that fans viewed as disrespectful. Olson said the two spoke privately and posted a video of them dancing together; the contestants have not described any further fallout.
Rodriguez, known for his work on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, told TV Insider: “We’re friends.” He added that they were competing against one another but having fun, and called Olson “a good guy.” Olson, an infielder with the Savannah Bananas, also told the outlet that they are “truly friends.”
The comments followed an Instagram apology Olson posted earlier Tuesday. He wrote that he was sorry to Rodriguez and to others for a comment he had made “the other day” and for the negativity it caused. The post included video of the two dancing to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.” Olson’s caption said he loved Rodriguez and urged them to focus on dancing.
The dispute began with a comment under a TikTok video posted the previous week by the Banana Ball team Loco Beach Coconuts. The video showed player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez and professional partner Witney Carson had performed on the show. Olson’s since-deleted comment praised Ostberg and asked how he had performed the dance better than Rodriguez with two hours of rehearsal. Fans criticized the remark as disrespectful to Rodriguez.
DWTS • Season Update • October 7, 2026
Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson Confirm Friendship After DWTS Apology
After a social media comment drew criticism, the contestants said they had spoken privately and remain friends. Their public account describes the disagreement as settled between them.
A competition moment became a public dispute
What happened
The exchange began with a dance recreation and a comparison about rehearsal time. Fans interpreted Jackson Olson’s since-deleted comment as disrespectful to Guillermo Rodriguez. The contestants later described their relationship as friendly and said they had cleared the air.
A dance revisited
A TikTok video from Loco Beach Coconuts showed player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez and Witney Carson had performed on the show.
A comment drew criticism
Olson praised Ostberg and asked how he had performed the dance better than Rodriguez with two hours of rehearsal. Fans viewed the comparison as a slight.
An apology followed
Olson apologized to Rodriguez and others for the comment and the negativity it caused. He also posted video of the two dancing together.
From criticism to a public reset
The sequence
Video posted
Ostberg recreated Rodriguez and Carson’s DWTS dance in a team TikTok.
Comment criticized
Olson’s comparison of the performances prompted negative fan reaction.
Private conversation
Olson said he visited Rodriguez’s trailer; they spoke for about 30 minutes to clear the air.
Apology and video
Olson apologized publicly and shared a clip of them dancing to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.”
Their words frame the disagreement
Two perspectives
“We’re friends. We’re competing against each other, but we’re friends. We’re having fun. He’s a good guy.”
Guillermo Rodriguez • TV Insider
“To G and to all of you, from the bottom of my heart I am so sorry about my comment I made the other day and that it caused this much negativity.”
Jackson Olson • Instagram apology
What remains unreported
Known limits
The full conversation
The contestants have not shared the full private discussion or described each person’s first reaction to the comment.
Comment removal
The original comment is deleted. The available account does not specify exactly when it was removed.
No announced next step
Neither contestant described an ongoing disagreement or said whether the incident will be discussed on the program.
Quick answers
Key questions
Why did Olson apologize?
For a since-deleted comment comparing Ostberg’s recreation with Rodriguez’s dance and referring to Ostberg’s two hours of rehearsal. Fans criticized it as disrespectful.
Did they say they are still friends?
Yes. Rodriguez said they were friends and having fun while competing; Olson also described them as “truly friends.”
What did Olson post?
An apology to Rodriguez and others, plus a video of the two dancing together to “Nobody’s Perfect.”
Will the competition continue?
Both remain contestants on Dancing With the Stars. Neither announced a change to their participation or an ongoing dispute.
A Contest Becomes a Public Dispute
The exchange brought attention to the personal dynamics behind a televised competition. Olson’s comment was about a dance recreation, but fans interpreted the comparison as a slight against Rodriguez. Their public statements now present the disagreement as resolved between the two contestants.
For viewers following the season, the clarification helps distinguish fan reaction from the contestants’ own account. Rodriguez said they remained friends, and Olson described a private conversation intended to clear the air. Neither described an ongoing feud.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Comment Drew Criticism
The comment concerned a dance Rodriguez and Carson had performed earlier in the season. Ostberg’s TikTok recreation prompted Olson to compare the two performances by mentioning the time Ostberg had rehearsed. The comment was later deleted, though the exact timing of its removal was not specified.
According to TV Insider, Olson said he went to Rodriguez’s trailer and spoke with him for about 30 minutes. He said they wanted to clear the air and show people that they were friends rather than acting maliciously toward one another. The public apology and the video of them dancing followed that conversation.
““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 Contestants Have Not Detailed
The contestants have said they are friends and that they spoke privately, but they have not shared the full conversation or described how each first reacted to the comment. Olson’s original comment is deleted, and the available account does not specify exactly when it was removed.
It is also unclear whether the exchange will affect how the contestants interact in future episodes. Neither has described any continuing disagreement, and no further response from the show was included in their statements to TV Insider.
The Competition Continues on DWTS
Rodriguez and Olson are still competing on Dancing With the Stars. Their public comments and Olson’s apology have addressed the immediate dispute; no additional step or statement was announced. Viewers can expect their competition to continue, though the contestants have not said whether the incident will be discussed on the program.
The next development will be their appearances in the show’s ongoing season. For now, both have characterized their relationship as friendly despite competing against each other.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Key Questions
Why did Jackson Olson apologize to Guillermo Rodriguez?
Olson apologized for a since-deleted social media comment comparing a recreation of Rodriguez’s dance with the original performance. Fans criticized the remark as disrespectful to Rodriguez.
Did Rodriguez and Olson say they are still friends?
Yes. Rodriguez told TV Insider they were friends and having fun while competing. Olson also told the outlet that they were “truly friends.”
What did Olson say in his apology?
In an Instagram post, Olson said he was sorry to Rodriguez and others for his comment and the negativity it caused. The post included a video of the two dancing together.
What prompted the original comment?
A TikTok video showed Banana Ball player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez and Witney Carson had performed on Dancing With the Stars. Olson’s comment praised Ostberg and referred to his two hours of rehearsal.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
