Jackson Olson is publicly apologizing to Guillermo Rodriguez after a deleted social media comment about his fellow Dancing With the Stars contestant sparked days of criticism from fans.
The Savannah Bananas star found himself at the center of unexpected Season 35 drama after reacting to a video that recreated one of Guillermo and Witney Carson’s recent ballroom routines.
The clip featured Loco Beach Coconuts player Erik Ostberg recreating Guillermo’s Yacht Rock Night choreography after only a short rehearsal period.
Jackson responded in the comments by asking how Erik had managed to perform the routine “better” than Guillermo after only two hours of practice.
Although the remark included a laughing emoji and may have been intended as a joke, many DWTS viewers did not find it funny.
Screenshots quickly began circulating online, with some fans accusing Jackson of disrespecting Guillermo, who has become one of Season 35’s most popular underdogs despite repeatedly finishing near the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard.
Jackson soon deleted the comment, but the reaction continued.
Then, on October 6, he addressed the controversy directly.
Jackson posted a lighthearted video featuring both himself and Guillermo set to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.” Partway through the clip, Guillermo joined him and the two danced together while wearing matching sunglasses.
But Jackson also included a serious apology in the caption.
He apologized to Guillermo and viewers “from the bottom of my heart,” saying he was sorry that his comment had created so much negativity.
Jackson also made his feelings toward Guillermo clear, writing that he loved his fellow contestant before encouraging everyone to return their attention to what Dancing With the Stars is supposed to be about — dancing.
Guillermo’s willingness to appear in the video beside Jackson appeared to send its own message.
Rather than showing any obvious lingering tension, the pair joked, danced together and presented a united front before returning to the ballroom.
The apology also received support from someone especially close to Jackson’s DWTS journey.
His professional partner, Emma Slater, responded positively to the video, writing, “Icons on my screen right now,” along with heart-eye emojis.
Fans also filled the comments with mixed but increasingly forgiving reactions.
Some praised Jackson for addressing the situation publicly rather than ignoring it, while others argued that the original comment had likely been taken more seriously than he intended.
The controversy arrived at an awkward moment for Jackson.
He had previously spoken publicly about kindness and bullying, which caused some viewers to criticize the dancing comment even more strongly when screenshots surfaced.
Still, the new video suggests Jackson wanted to acknowledge that the joke did not land the way he expected instead of allowing the situation to continue growing.
Guillermo, meanwhile, has attracted considerable support this season despite receiving some of the lowest judges’ scores.
His humor, determination and partnership with Witney Carson have made him a fan favorite, which may help explain why viewers reacted so strongly to a joke they believed was being made at his expense.
For now, however, the two contestants appear ready to move forward.
Jackson apologized, Guillermo joined him in the video, and Emma publicly supported their reconciliation.
What started with one quickly deleted comment turned into one of Season 35’s unexpected off-camera controversies — but Jackson Olson is now making it clear that he wants the focus back where it started: on the dance floor.
