“This isn’t Conrad, Belly, or Jeremiah,” she reminded fans, referencing The Summer I Turned Pretty. “These are real people, with real lives, doing a job that most of you couldn’t even imagine taking on.”
Former Dancing With the Stars pro Lindsay Arnold is clapping back at online critics — and she isn’t holding back.
In a fiery TikTok posted Thursday, September 18, the 31-year-old dancer and older sister of current pro Rylee Arnold expressed her frustration with the relentless negativity she’s seen aimed at the show’s cast and crew.
“Y’all are mean,” she began. “The amount of videos I’ve seen just trashing the pros, the troupe, the hosts, the judges… it honestly makes me sick. Do you realize these are real people?”
Arnold reminded viewers that unlike scripted TV dramas, what fans see on DWTS isn’t a performance of fictional characters. “This isn’t Conrad, Belly, and Jeremiah from The Summer I Turned Pretty where you can critique their choices like storylines. These are real people, living real lives, doing their jobs.”
And for those who think it’s easy? Arnold, who took home the Mirror Ball trophy in Season 25, had a sharp message: “People love to say, ‘Here’s my hot take, I don’t think they were good enough.’ Okay — let’s see you get out there and try. You couldn’t.”
With Season 34 now underway, fans are already cheering on their favorites and critiquing their least-loved performances — but Arnold’s passionate defense is a reminder that behind every dance, every score, and every critique, there are human beings giving it their all.
Still, Lindsay has one clear request for those making content about Dancing With the Stars: keep it kind.
“If you’ve got the time to film videos, spread hate, or leave nasty comments, maybe take a step back,” she said. “Because if you’re spending energy actively trashing people, you’re clearly not focusing enough on yourself. Maybe it’s time to rethink what really matters in your life.”
For Lindsay, the show isn’t just entertainment — it’s personal. After competing as a pro for 10 seasons and building close bonds with the troupe, judges, and crew, she says they’re like family. And now, with her younger sister Rylee partnered with singer Scott Hoying this season, the connection runs even deeper.
“Obviously, my sister Rylee — I’d go to bat for her until the day I die,” Lindsay emphasized.
“But I care about every single one of them — they’re my family, they’re my friends,” she said passionately. “Being a pro on Dancing With the Stars is one of the toughest jobs out there. And honestly, hearing people act like they know what it takes? It just makes me want to laugh.”
She wrapped up her message with a direct challenge to viewers: “Do better. Please don’t make me post another video defending the people I love on a show you’re clearly obsessed with. If it’s taking up that much of your life, maybe try spreading a little positivity instead.”
