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'Dancing With the Stars' Features Olivia Jade, Kenya Moore, Amanda Kloots & More This Season

Home / Entertainment / 'Dancing With the Stars' Features Olivia Jade, Kenya Moore, Amanda Kloots & More This Season

By Favour Adegoke on September 11, 2021 at 3:00 PM EDT

On Wednesday, "Good Morning America" revealed the big names who would be joining the list of stars for ABC's dance show, "Dancing With The Stars." The list is mind blowing, and out of this world.

It included "The Talk" co-host Amanda Kloots, Beverly Hills, Brian Austin Green, Bling Empire's Christine Chiu, Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby, former NBA player Iman Shumpert, country star Jimmie Allen, YouTube superstar JoJo Siwa, Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kenya Moore, Cobra Kai's Martin Kove, The Bachelor's Matt James, Melanie C., The Office's Melora Hardin, WWE's Mike Mizanin, Olivia Jade, and Olympic gymnast Suni Lee.

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The show was renewed for its 30th season in March, with Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Houghwill returning as the panel. Tyra Banks would also return for her role as host.

On the issue of the show being a virtual one or if it'd allow live audiences amid Covid-19 restrictions, Banks clarified that they have been thinking about it.

"We've been talking about it, back and forth," she told Entertainment Tonight. "But probably not, if I really think about ultimate safety. Maybe not yet."

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Jade's Appearance Sparks Controversy

Fans weren't happy after they heard that Jade would be added to the upcoming season of the reality show.

Jade's Parents, actress Lori Loughlin and designer Mossimo Giannulli, served prison time after they were found guilty of paying $500,000 to have Jade and her sister admitted into a University.

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Dancing With The Stars arrive for rehearsals
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Dancing With The Stars arrive for rehearsals
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According to E! News, inside sources revealed that Jade's decision to be part of the show is her way of "taking her life into her own hands, learning from past mistakes and challenging herself in new areas."

In spite of  this, fans of the show have come out to say she's "undeserving" of the opportunity. Some even called out the show for "white privilege."

"Olivia Jade is living proof that no matter what happens, as long as you’re pretty and rich the world will give you a second chance," a Twitter user wrote. "Why do they keep doing this? Stop rewarding terrible behaviour from people," another commented. "Who without opportunities like this actually could fade into oblivion."

However, some fans had differing opinions. They  defended ABC's decision and urged everyone to be open-minded and separate Jade from her parents' actions. "If she can dance, why not?" an Instagram user retorted.

"What her parents did was a terrible, terrible thing and they should continue to be held accountable for it. But Olivia is literally just starting out her life and still has a chance to be a good person," another wrote.

"We should try to nurture her potential and educate her on white privilege instead of making her out to be a lost cause for something her parents are responsible for.

We need to shape ignorant people who are willing to learn and be better instead of discarding them," they concluded.

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Siwa Will Be Paired With A Female Pro Dancer

ABC announced Siwa and Lee as the first contestants of the upcoming season and the news has since been making rounds. For the first time ever, a same-sex couple would be competing for the trophy.

When Siwa got wind of the news, she mentioned that she was so "proud" of it.

JoJo Siwa kisses her girlfriend after her dance practice
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JoJo Siwa kisses her girlfriend after her dance practice
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"I think it’s cool. I think it breaks a wall that’s never been done before. I think it’s really special that I get to share with the world that you can love who you love, but now you can dance with who you want to dance with."

Her partner, Lee, is an Olympian. She won gold for the all-round gymnastics during this year's Olympics, making history as the first American Olympian to win.

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Jade On The 'Red Table Talk'

In December 2020, Jade broke her silence over her parents' indictment. In an interview on Jada Smith's "Red Table Talk," she called herself the "poster girl of white privilege" and apologized for contributing to "social inequality."

She admitted that every single person in her family messed up. They made a mistake and there was no need to justify what happened.

"But I think what's so important to me is to learn from the mistake. Not to now be shamed and punished and never given a second chance. I'm 21, I feel like I deserve a second chance to redeem myself, to show I've grown," she added.

About 'Dancing With The Stars'

"Dancing With The Stars" is an American reality show that debuted on June 1, 2005 on ABC. The show was first hosted by Tom Bergeron. He stopped hosting in 2019 and it was picked up by Brooke Burke-Charvet and Erin Andrews. Begeron was later replaced by Banks in 2020.

The format of the show consisted of a celebrity paired with a professional dancer. Each pair then performs predetermined dances and compete against the others for judges' points and audience votes.

The couple who receives the lowest combined total of judges' points and audience votes would be eliminated each week. This continues until only the champion dance pair remains.

The 30th season of the show will premiere on September 20 on ABC.

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