Julia Stiles turned a years-old criticism from Andy Cohen into one of the most talked-about moments of the Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere. After Cohen had questioned her dancing abilities in a 2025 radio interview, Stiles brought the remark back into the spotlight before stepping onto the ballroom floor with professional partner Ezra Sosa.
During her rehearsal package, Stiles explained that Cohen’s comment had stayed with her. The actress, who famously starred in Save the Last Dance, said the remark had been “imprinted” in her mind and partly motivated her decision to finally compete on Dancing With the Stars.
Cohen had made the comment while speaking with Kerry Washington, Stiles’ former Save the Last Dance costar. He questioned whether viewers could agree that Stiles was not the greatest dancer, while Washington defended her former costar during the conversation.
Stiles and Sosa then had the opportunity to answer that criticism on the ballroom floor. The pair performed a quickstep to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” delivering a routine that earned them 18 out of 30 points from the judges and placed them among the stronger performers of the premiere.
The response from the judges added another layer to the moment. Bruno Tonioli praised Stiles as a “great dancer,” a compliment that visibly surprised the actress. Stiles later said she was almost having an out-of-body experience hearing those words from a judge.
Then Derek Hough stepped into the conversation. After watching the routine, Hough directly addressed Cohen with a pointed message, telling him he could “eat it” while praising Stiles’ performance as beautiful and graceful. The unexpected comment immediately became part of the night’s biggest talking points.
Stiles did not appear interested in prolonging the feud, instead responding with humor when asked about Hough’s comment after the show. “Derek said it best,” she told Us Weekly, while Sosa jokingly suggested Cohen should keep watching the show if he wanted to see Stiles dance.
The story also took another turn when Cohen addressed the situation himself. During Watch What Happens Live, he apologized to Stiles and acknowledged that he had no real authority to judge someone’s dancing. He even poked fun at his own dancing while admitting that his earlier remark had been unfair.
For Stiles, however, the bigger takeaway appears to be the chance to focus on the positive side of the experience. She acknowledged that performers can sometimes hear criticism more loudly than praise, but said she wanted to take in Tonioli’s compliment and appreciate the progress she and Sosa had made.
What began with an old comment has now become an unexpected DWTS storyline, with Stiles answering her critics through her performances rather than simply through words. After an 18-point debut, Hough’s pointed message and Cohen’s apology, the attention now turns to whether Stiles and Sosa can build on that momentum as the competition continues.
Compiled with information from various sources.
