Rylee Arnold is clearing the air after her viral Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro drama with finalist AJ Pritchard.
“Honestly, comments like that I feel like I’ve gotten used to getting sometimes,” Rylee, 21, told It Girl in a YouTube video published Friday, September 18, after AJ’s fiancée, Zara Zoffany, publicly criticized the DWTS pro for offering harsh feedback during the spinoff’s competition. “It is really hard to see something like that, but at the same time, I have grown so much respect for my fans and the people that love and support me.”
She continued, “It’s been so nice to see the people that have backed me up. I honestly just wish everyone the best and I understand backing up your loved ones and I totally get that. So, I just hope all is well and all is good.”
Rylee made a guest appearance on the semi-finals of The Next Pro, where AJ, 31, was challenged to choreograph a routine for them to perform. After rehearsals, Rylee told the judges that AJ allegedly didn’t offer any positive feedback in the studio. In response, Zara, 32, publicly slammed Rylee’s critique via social media.
“[Rylee] — @aj11ace wouldn’t have had to critique you in the first place if everything had been right. Dancing with Bailey [McKnight] last week showed how he danced with an amateur & their dance was amazing,” Zara, 32, claimed in an Instagram comment, referring to AJ’s previous Next Pro routine with the influencer. “This week was suppose [sic] to be dancing with a pro … very different dynamics & what people didn’t see in rehearsals was that you injured him when you hit him in the head, leaving with a slight concussion and needing to see a [doctor].”
She added at the time, “He wouldn’t have needed to give it if something hadn’t been wrong. I hope you were able to take something positive and useful from his teaching and feedback.”
While Rylee didn’t immediately address the comment, her DWTS costar Ezra Sosa and Next Pro judge Shirley Ballas each defended her actions. Zara, for her part, later issued a public apology and set the record straight about her stance on the subject.
“I just want to make it clear that I never said she wasn’t qualified,” Zara said in a TikTok video uploaded last month. “ I just want to say, if you are watching this, Rylee, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry if I made you feel a certain type of way. That was never my intention.”
As for Rylee, she made it clear that she has no bad blood with AJ or Zara. (The Strictly Come Dancing alum never addressed the situation.)
“Honestly, the last time we spoke was when I was [in Australia] for the dance,” Rylee told It Girl. “We ended it on good terms, and I think I did a good job with his dance.”
AJ ultimately lost The Next Pro to Adele Zaikman, who joined Rylee as a pro on DWTS season 35. Adele, 24, was paired with reality TV star Conner Leavitt, and they were the first couple eliminated from the competition. Rylee is still in the running for the mirrorball trophy with her celeb partner, influencer Connor Wood.
