Harry Shum Jr. used Friday Instagram to steer the conversation back to what he says the show is meant to be: joyful. In a post aimed at fans and fellow contestants, he wrote, "Reminder that this is a dance show. It is supposed to be joyous. People are suffering in the world already," and urged everyone around Dancing With the Stars to celebrate one another with more love.
The message landed after a dramatic week on DWTS that left the mood around the ballroom looking anything but calm. Guillermo Rodriguez was eliminated on Tuesday during the show's first-ever Super Bowl Night, and Daniella Karagach said his exit felt like "a piece of us leaving." Shum's note also singled out Rodriguez directly, saying he had rallied people watching at home and even the cast itself to celebrate what dance should mean, adding that the joy was showing through every step he took.
Shum did not stop with Rodriguez. He sent supportive words to Connor Woods, Tatyana Ali, Jackson Olson, Maura Higgins, Amber Glenn, Tyler Cameron, Julia Stiles, Ezra Frech and Jenna Dewan, and even wrote a note to himself. Among the strongest praise, he called Connor Woods the "body roll king," credited Tatyana Ali's focus and balance, said Tyler Cameron had improved over the past few weeks and described Ezra Frech as mature, charismatic and confident. He also called Jenna Dewan "a powerhouse of a performer" and said he had met her several decades ago, when she was kind and gracious to him as a young creative trying to figure out the industry.
That softer tone stood in contrast to the week around the show. Jenna Johnson, Shum's partner, had a tense discussion with Carrie Ann Inaba, and the exact cause of that exchange was not made public. Shum's post did not address the specifics of that argument, but it did answer the larger mood around the show: he wanted the focus back on celebration, not friction. For now, that is the clearest line from one of the show's current figures — the dance should still feel like dance.
