Between the hookup rumors, Covid-19 scares, and Kenya Moore’s untimely elimination, this season of Dancing with the Stars has been one for the books. But before anyone took a step on the dancefloor, season 30 made headlines as the first season to feature a same-sex pair. Nickelodeon star Jojo Siwa teamed up with pro-dancer Jenna Johnson, and they’ve been slaying the competition week after week. The show’s inclusivity has been widely celebrated, but many fans have wondered why Cody Rigsby wasn’t also paired with a same-sex partner. Now, Cody has revealed that he too wishes he had the opportunity to compete with a male dancer.
The openly gay Peloton instructor has been dancing through the competition alongside his professional dance partner Cheryl Burke. The couple had a rough start on this season of DWTS thanks to breakthrough Covid-19 cases, but they’re hitting their groove now as season 30 approaches its halfway point. And Cheryl is an excellent partner to have — she knows just how hard of a competition DWTS can be, she’s won multiple times, and she’s one of the most recognizable dancers from the show. However, in a recent conversation with GLAAD, Cody revealed that he would have definitely asked for a male partner had he known it was an option.
HuffPost initially reported on the conversation. The fitness influencer said, “When the conversation opportunity came up for Dancing With The Stars, I was just so excited to be on the show, I guess I didn’t even think it was a possibility.” He continued, “So I didn’t bring it up. Had I maybe had a moment to breathe and recognize an opportunity, I definitely would have asked!”
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In the interview, Cody praised Jojo for her bravery to compete on the show and express her true authentic self. Not only is DWTS a drastic departure from her typical kid-centric content, but it’s also awe-inspiring that she had the courage to compete as a same-sex pairing so recently after publicly coming out about her sexuality.
Although Cody is a little bit regretful that he didn’t get the chance to dance with a male partner, he’s confident that fans will see it happen on the show soon. After 30 seasons, it’s definitely long overdue.
“I know that Val [Chmerkovskiy] is really open to having a same-sex partner for next season,” Cody told GLAAD. “I think that would be incredible.”
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TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CODY’S COMMENTS? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIS DANCES WITH CHERYL? WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR TO WIN THE MIRRORBALL TROPHY THIS SEASON?
[Photo Credit: ABC/Maarten de Boer]
