PureDWTS Season 23 Cast Rumors & Watchout – Did Gabby Douglas Just Reveal That Laurie Hernandez is Dancing This Season???
Forgive me, friends, because I’m kinda flying by the seat of my pants at the moment – was about to settle down and head to bed when someone tweeted to tell me that U.S. women’s gymnastics team member Laurie Hernandez allegedly let it slip on Facebook Live that she is doing DWTS this season. Bear with me, currently trying to find this interview…would certainly welcome any help, if anyone’s lurking! 🙂
But if this is true…what do you guys think? Laurie was my second choice after Simone Biles, so I’m totally cool with this! The fact that Mark was tweeting the other day about Laurie does kinda make one wonder if she’s his partner though, doesn’t it? 😉
ETA: Got it! Thanks @DancingABCStats. The”smoking gun” in question starts around the 8:20 mark, when the girls answer a question from Twitter about which one of them is gonna “dance with the stars”. They all mutter “it’s a secret”, but Gabby gestures at Laurie and Laurie shoots her a look and shakes her head, like “dude, not now!” I think if none of them were dancing this season, they probably would have said “nobody!”, so I do tend to think at least one of them is…and I think Gabby may have let the cat outta the bag. I hope the poor girl doesn’t get more social media hate for it.
Final Five on NBC Olympics’ Facebook from Rachel B on Vimeo.
Also worth mentioning? Mark was tweeting the other day about how much he loves Laurie and asks if she “needs a dance teacher”. She also is pretty good friends with the Ribeiros, which makes me wonder if they maybe had a hand in convincing her to do it:
I think the only thing that bugs me about Mark possibly being her partner is that she would be his THIRD Olympic gymnast. THIRD. Sorry, but I need a little more variety than that – I would ideally like to see her with Sasha, but part of me worries that they may give her to Val…I have to wonder if they already sorted out the contractual stuff before she even left for Rio, which might explain why Val claimed to have already talked to his partner on the phone. On one hand, this would be a true test for him: can his choreo and teaching skills hold up when he’s got so much talent to work with? On the other hand, I don’t want to see her talent wasted on craptastic choreography and gimmicks. Thoughts? Anyone?
ETA2: Good job, Court. Also, if you go to this link, note how Laurie is not taking part in the Kelloggs Tour. ~Vogue
–> 8:25 mark and it’s ambiguous at best. Especially with the gym tour
I so hope this is true! She’s such a little dynamo and like Biles, they both have charisma. She’d be perfect for Mark.
@cc – Maybe, but if none of them were actually going to dance, why not just say “nobody” or “not this season”? I just don’t see the incentive for them to say “it’s a secret” if nothing was going to come of it.
As tedious as the tour and the whole scheduling of it may be, I’m not sure it would be all that impossible for her to do that and DWTS. I’m sure her and her partner could travel together and they’d squeeze a couple hours of rehearsal every day.
What struck me the most was that instantly both Simone and Gabby pointed at Laurie. And then her face was like “shh! I’m not supposed to tell them yet!”. So either that was very genuine or they’re good actresses, lol.
If she does end up being on I REALLY want her with Sasha. Mark getting another gymnast would be a bit too obvious but I suppose I can be ok with that too.
@CC NY – And again, I just don’t see the incentive for these girls to lie. They’re teenage Olympic medalists, not reality show starlets looking to extend their 15 minutes of fame – I don’t think they’ve got that kind of guile.
I will be so happy if Laurie and Mark are partners! In my opinion, it doesn’t seem likely that both Simone and Gabby would point to Laurie immediately, and then Laurie react nervously if she’s not on the show. It also could be like a joke between the girls so I guess we’ll have to wait and see!
Totally agree Court.
If really none of them were doing it I’m pretty sure their immediate response would have been “none of us”. I also wouldn’t have been surprised if they would have gone on to explain why they aren’t doing it and all that.
This makes me excited that we’re gonna get one of those little firecrackers (Laurie) on our dance floor. Imagine her bringing the same fierceness she brought in her floor routines onto, say, a Samba. 😀 😀
honestly am not sure what to make of that lol. Part of me thinks “that’s the face of “be quiet I can’t say yet” but watching it again it looked like “nope not me” kind of reaction.
I can already hear the cries over dance experience, but she should be fun to have on the show.
Idk why but I have a feeling if she is on they’re gonna put her with Artem, who for some reason I don’t want partnered with a teenager. I just don’t think that’d go very well. :/ Mark would probably be good but has two gymnasts already, and I think Sasha would be good as well (technically he’s partnered a gymnast before as well, but only as a substitute for a few dances :P).
If she is on the show I hope it’s Sasha as her partner. The fact that Val knows his partner already scares me though. When he had zendaya as his partner I wasn’t exactly thrilling on what he gave her choreography wise in the beginning but on the other hand he did great with bindi in switch up week and Laurie kinda reminds me of her so I’m torn here. Anyways, ideal situation would be Laurie and Sasha and Val and anyone else in my opinion. As for Mark I kinda hope he gets a non athlete this season.
@Julia – Unless they have an unusually short crop of female celebs this season, I don’t see Artem getting her – that just strikes me as an extraordinarily awkward pairing, and I don’t think they’d waste a huge get like Laurie on a pro that they had no issues sitting out for the season just a year ago. My bigger concern is that they’d give her to Val – given the choreo we’ve seen from him these last few seasons, I worry that girl’s talent would be wasted on him. I’d rather see what Sasha can do with her, or if they absolutely have to do it – give her to Mark.
Considering they keep trying to make Val happen, it wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up being gifted with Laurie as a partner. What a waste of her talent that would be when you take into account Val’s history of non-eventful choreography.
I really rather see what Sasha can come up with with someone of her caliber rather than seeing her with Val and knowing it won’t be anything special.
Also, her and Sasha? Perfect height match-up. I know Val isn’t all that tall either but I don’t think he’d look all that great next to tiny Laurie.
Ugh I don’t want Laurie with Val either, but don’t they generally ask current Olympians AFTER they’re done competing in their events? I’ve heard of scouts from the show attending previous Olympics games and asking them there, so maybe that’s when they asked her (if they did) but Val claimed to have spoken with his partner before the Olympics even began. Though I guess things could get shuffled around, and Val claimed on twitter this is going to be his “best season ever”. I’ll believe it when I see it, but maybe he thinks his partner is going to be amazing, and I suppose that could very well be Laurie.
I couldn’t see her with anyone but Mark or Derek. If she gets Val that would just be a waste and I also don’t trust V with young girls #sorrynotsorry.
If they give Laurie to Val, I’ll be so upset. What a waste. I’d prefer her with Mark because of his creativity and she’s a huge get so it’d be a risk to give her to Sasha when you have Mark. But if it were only between Val and Sasha, then easily Sasha.
I get the feeling if Val isn’t already her partner Laurie is going to request Mark, mostly because Aly had him before.
Val would be awful for her. He would wet blanket her lovely giggles. I am guessing that she will get Mark because of his tweet, and I would love to see him giggling himself again. I don’t care if this is his third gymnast. They are all different human beings with different strengths and weaknesses. If by any chance she doesn’t get Mark, though, I would choose Sasha for her. He, too, would be a good match for her sunny personality.
It would make sense why she went pro before not being selected to compete all around, if she had opportunities like this already being offered to her.
My one question is–how hard would it be to make the tour work and practicing/shows with her being subject to child labor laws?
Yay! Bring on Laurie!! I’m so excited!
This makes me excited! I wanted Laurie on the show when i first saw her floor routine!
I really hope she will be in DWTS this season , she seems so lovely , i don’t mind seeing her with Val …. He never been partnered with an olympian .. And for me i think he do well with the young stars and i think he is more chill ,fun and himself with the young stars like ( Zendaya , Bindi and he was friendly with Sadie) , and i think if he was with someone like laurie , he will do well ,but sasha ….. They seem perfect but idk i may prefer her with Val … Either Sasha or Val she will be fine bc she is goregeous , and i would like to see mark with older stars ,he got a lot of young stars and athletes … I would like more diversity
Definitely in the camp of loving the idea of Laurie doing the show but only if she’s NOT with Val. She’s so sweet and Val is… not.
If I had to pick between Mark and Val, 100% Mark. That said, if it were between Mark and Sasha? Sasha all the way. Just… Please not Val.
My issue with Val partnering Laurie has nothing to do with him not being “fun, chill, and himself”, Haneen; my issue is his choreography – it sucks. He’s proven over and over that he struggles when choreographing a celeb with a high level of talent – he wastes time with walking around, gimmicks, props, etc.
I have to agree with Courtney – Val would never do a partner like Laurie justice. He’s got about one great dance a season, if he’s lucky.
And nearly every partner he’s had has had training to some degree – and the only time he’s won is when he was pimped to high heaven. Give him someone with NO experience at all and let’s see what he can do now that he’s been on the show for a few years. I want to see GREAT dances – and with Val, we won’t get that.
I have to add – him managing to be a good partner for ONE dance out of the season isn’t asking all that much of anyone – I hardly count Bindi and Sadie as Val success stories. It was ONE week. Zendaya is a 30 year old trained dancer in a child’s (at the time) body.
Julia – Val says that every season and he’s been wrong nearly every time, so…
I think Val will get Laurie..since Val never had an athlete as a partner before.
So i’m kinda sure Laurie will be partnered with Val.. Laurie is a big get for the show (if she’s really on) & Val is their most popular pro besides Derek..& Derek won’t be back.
I don’t think it’s very likely. After the Olympics, the girls are going on tour. Maybe for season 24 though?
Princess Heidi, I think someone is giving Val more credit than deserved. Val never partnered Sadie. Derek did switch-up week. Sadie just went to one of his shows, as far as I know.
With no disrespect to the mods, I really don’t buy it. Somewhere Laurie said DWTS is one of her fave tv shows so they could have just looked at her because they know she loves it. Or because they know she’s the best dancer of the group (which has been said). Laurie has tour/press immediately post Olympics and her coach is already talking about her competing at Worlds next year. Is she really going to risk injury trying to do DWTS/tour at the same time and put her run at Worlds next year at risk? She needs to stay in prime shape in order to keep competing. The Olympics were Laurie’s first major international competition, so this was just her beginning. I could see her doing DWTS eventually, just not now.
Sorry for an almost double post but what if we just put positive vibes out into the Universe that Laurie will be with Sasha. Not that we hope she’ll be with Sasha, but that she WILL be with Sasha.
That’s what I’m gonna do anyway. Haha
Stating a lot of opinions as facts there, RealityBites – I’d reel than in, lest you make an ass of yourself later on.
READ THE POST ALL THE WAY THROUGH, GRACE. *eye roll*
They keep telling us Val’s most popular…and they keep trying to make him popular…but in the grand scheme of things? Eh. Everyone has fans – some have lots of fans for no discernible reason (re: Kardashians).
Also with as much respect as possible to the mods here, I also wanted to add that the link about tour doesn’t mean Laurie isn’t doing the Kellogg’s tour. Generally the entire Olympics team does do the tour, unless they are injured, but that press release linked above is from pre-Olympics. Laurie wouldn’t be listed as a headliner because she wasn’t a known entity at that point to general fans. They listed the most known girls that were already signed on, not everyone that was taking part. I think it’s all about who was a name at that point, and Laurie wasn’t pre-Olympics.
Ray, you’re tying yourself in an awful lot of knots to argue that Laurie isn’t doing DWTS. My question is “why”? Is it that upsetting to you that you simply can’t fathom it? You’re pulling out some pretty weak arguments, honey…
I still do not think Val is the most popular pro left. There is a difference between the show wanting him to be the most popular pro vs. actually being it. After Derek of course, Mark holds that title. In terms of name recognition and likeability Mark is above Val. Though not as much as his brother, Val also has that you either love him or hate him factor.
Very happy if true. My opinion is that the best match would be Mark and Laurie. I am a BIG Sasha fan and so hope that he is back, but I don’t think TPTB would ever give him Laurie. Unless this is a season where they have multiple big names, I can’t see one of the most popular going to a fairly new pro. Mark is undoubtedly the best pro left and I can picture great things from them. TPTB do seem to love Val and might give him yet another ringer, but I think a get this big would have some say. I would absolutely think Laurie would consider Aly as God as far as this, and of course Aly would say Mark. Even if she speaks to Shawn, who is there covering the games, she’ll say Mark. So here is hoping it is true and Laurie gets to pick for herself. I hope Sasha gets someone great as well. Don’t worry about Val he’ll get a good one.
As much as I would love for any of these girls to do DWTS with any of the current male pros, I wouldn’t mind seeing one of them paired up with a new pro that is closer to their age…but as long as Keo isn’t paired with one of the gymnast, I’ll be ok with whoever.
Wow! What a huge get for the show if Laurie is already on this season (rather than next season or whenever)! The popularity and hype around these girls is off the charts right now and there’s no doubt she will dance well!
Whoever is going to partner her is one lucky pro! I hope Val is not her partner lol She will make him look better than he is, because she will probably go very far despite of lame choreo.
Laurie will be hard to beat so I hope the producers have some other good celebs lined up!
Trent – Keo is way too tall to be a good match for Laurie, so they probably wouldn’t put them together.
PJC – I wouldn’t say it’s impossible for them to pair Laurie and Sasha, as they have occasionally given newer pros ringers in the past, but I agree she’ll likely be with Mark. I don’t even think Sasha is going to be a pro at all this season, given that it seems anyone who’s come in 8th place lately hasn’t returned the next season. 😛 (That’s probably just a coincidence, but it’s kind of odd lol.)
Mark possibly getting another gymnast… YAWN! Let’s hope that if Laurie is cast this season that TPTB switch things up at bit.
You know Sandy, to be honest Laurie is perfect for Mark. Why not him for her partner. A 3rd MBT is long long overdue. I understand that him getting another gymnast would be the least popular thing to watch, but another gymnast is what he needs IMO…
For what it is worth, Laurie lives in New Jersey. It might explain what Mark was doing in Newark airport.
I would SO much rather Mark get his 3rd gymnast over a certain other pro because at least he will not waste the talent.
Laurie is still in Rio, Psychee. She posted photos from there yesterday and also in interviews with the Final Five they said they were going to be sightseeing now and would be there through the closing ceremony.
If this turns out to be true, I would love it. Laurie is absolutely adorable and has a personality that you can’t help but smiling when you see her. I think she’d do well and would be extremely well received by cast, crew and America.
Sorry idk if my last comment went through.
Looks like V and Zendaya hung out last night. I’ve read rumors years ago about him saying he would marry her when she turns 21 but I never believed them. But the pics looked like a couple on a date.
#jennifer. Laurie is only 16. That might mean that it would be better for her and her family to take her lessons close to home. That in turn would mean that a dancing space has to be found and a whole bunch of arrangements have to be made. Mark would not need Laurie to be there yet as he made those preparations. Of course, this is only idle conjecture. He very well might have been trying to make a flight connection elsewhere.
Laurie IS doing the Tour. Not sure if she could do both the tour and DWTS, but according to her coach, she IS doing the tour.
Ok, honest question: are gymnastics fans upset that Laurie might be on DWTS? Because this is the 3rd or 4th person I’ve seen either here or on Twitter that insists so vehemently that Laurie is either doing the tour/not doing DWTS that I’m beginning to wonder…
@ Court ..
And to add onto that, the only argument I’m seeing as to why she can’t be possibly doing the show this season is because she’s doing the tour. Is the tour really that demanding that she just can’t do both at the same time? Is it that physically impossible for her to only be able to do one? Is one of the tour dates on a monday night when the show is going on that she can’t possibly take that night/day off from the tour? (that last question I just now answered myself and found that no tour date is on a monday)
Yeah she’s a gymnast and there’s the risk of injury and all that but I just don’t see it all that impossible for her to have just signed up for the show for the fun of it regardless of how much she has to train or how tight the schedule for the tour might be.
No, I would love for her (or Simone) to do DWTS. But I asked her coach on twitter about the tour and she said she is doing it. There are a lot of Sunday night tour stops, so just wonder if she could fit both in. But like I said, would love to see her.
It said on the tour’s website that not all gymnasts are doing all shows. And I’m going to leave it at that because I could not really give two shits.
Mark would be perfect as Laurie’s partner! I hope it’s true! I really hoped Gabby would do it but I guess not.
So the rumor about Simone doing DWTS isn’t true? Would they really have 2 gymnasts?
Laurie just said in an interview that they’ll be flying to New York after rio then she’ll be going to California for “a couple of things”