Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jen Affleck, Whitney Be part of DWTS Season 34
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion is the present that retains on giving with not one — however two — Dancing With the Stars casting bulletins.
In the course of the particular, which began streaming on Hulu Tuesday, July 1, host Nick Viall shocked the solid — and Us — when he instructed attendees Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Jessi Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie Paul, Layla Taylor and Miranda McWhorter that after a number of of the wives auditioned for the present, two of them had been chosen.
First, Jen, 26, who’s pregnant with child No. 3 whereas filming the reunion, obtained the information that she can be competing for the mirrorball trophy within the fall. A plot twist revealed Whitney, 32, was additionally picked for season 34.
MomTok and DadTok— a.okay.a Conner Leavitt, Zac Affleck, Jordan Ngatikaura, Dakota Mortensen, Jace Terry and Jacob Neely — had been there to congratulate the costars, who might be competing in opposition to one another. ABC has beforehand confirmed that TikToker Alix Earle and Steve Irwin‘s son Robert Irwin had been collaborating within the subsequent season, however the remainder of the celeb opponents have but to be confirmed.
Earlier than the information, DWTS professional Val Chmerkovskiy solely instructed Us Weekly how he has very excessive expectations in terms of potential superstar contestants after the present “went viral” on social media.
“After I consider a companion, I simply need any individual that — after being on the present for 20 seasons now — I simply need any individual that’s excited to be there,” Chmerkovskiy, 39, shared in April. “I’ve seen a whole lot of actually unbelievable individuals and I’ve labored with a whole lot of actually proficient dynamic individuals. However it’s from that pleasure that I’m actually impressed and now you could have me actually going the gap for you.”
DWTS’ resurgence in recognition has been largely due to social media. Whereas judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli and their scores play a task — so do votes from followers. Throughout season 33, DWTS broke a long-standing custom by releasing viewer vote totals.
ABC instructed Deadline in October 2024 that there have been greater than 14 million fan votes obtained for the episode the place Anna Delvey and companion Ezra Sosa in addition to Tori Spelling and her companion, Pasha Pashkov, obtained eradicated on stay TV.
“The document variety of votes that week suggests to me that a whole lot of our viewers are very enthusiastic about a whole lot of our stars this yr, and the elevated scores yr or yr would counsel that it’s the case,” DWTS government producer Conrad Inexperienced instructed Deadline. “At core, as at all times, the solid is what defines the season.”
The strain is on for Dancing With the Stars to prime the record-breaking success of season 33 — and Us has some concepts for a way season 34 can up the ante. Two superstar contestants have already been revealed, with Robert Irwin and influencer Alix Earle vying for the coveted mirrorball trophy when DWTS returns to […]
Inexperienced continued: “This group of stars are actually likable, proficient and love being on the present — and that zeal for what they’re doing actually comes by means of on stay TV. There’s actual dance expertise throughout the solid and lot of distinctive tales in addition to a lot potential within the {couples} to develop as performers.”
On the time, Inexperienced mirrored on the present’s long-lasting success.
“Additionally, Dancing with the Stars is a extremely constructive present at a time when the world is feeling fairly bleak, so there’s a sure escapism and sense of neighborhood that comes with watching which helps remind us of what we’ve in frequent as Individuals,” Inexperienced continued. “We’ve additionally been on air lengthy sufficient now {that a} new technology of viewers are watching with their youngsters and the recognition of the present on social apps like TikTok has exploded and launched new viewers.”
Government producer Ryan O’Dowd not too long ago slammed claims that manipulated votes performed a task within the present’s achievements.
“We take that very critically. We’ve by no means, nor would we ever do something to govern the votes,” O’Dowd instructed Deadline in Could about how the present “actually must be” credible. “It wants to permit the viewers to have a voice and to essentially be the voice of who deserves to win. So we’ve by no means nor would we ever need to manipulate that in any manner.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion particular is at the moment streaming on Hulu.