History was made on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ but viewers couldn’t get over the presence of Olivia Jade
On Dancing with the Stars Monday, the show’s 30th season kicked off with 15 new contestants including Olivia Jade Giannulli, who goes by Olivia Jade, and viewers were not very excited about her casting. Her parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, both served time in prison for the college admissions scandal that broke in March of 2019. Which is something she addressed during her introductory video package.
“I'm probably best known for being an influencer,” Jade said. “But the last few years I've been, I guess you could say, wrapped up in a scandal.”
Jade was paired with fan-favorite pro Val Chmerkovskiy and the pair danced a salsa for her first performance, finishing with a total of 25 points out of a possible 40. But viewers on Twitter were not impressed, calling her a criminal and saying they will refuse to watch the show until she is voted off.
Video transcript
OLIVIA JADE: I'm probably best known for being an influencer. Welcome back to another video. But the last few years I've been, I guess you could say wrapped up in a scandal. .
KYLIE MAR: The 30th season of "Dancing with the " kicked off Monday. And many viewers were not super excited to see new contestant Olivia Jade, whose parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, both served time in prison for the college admissions scandal that broke in March of 2019.
OLIVIA JADE: After everything happened, I did step back from social media and just soak in what everybody was saying. I'm not trying to pull a pity card, but I just need to move forward and do better.
KYLIE MAR: Paired with fan favorite pro Val Chmerkovskiy, 21-year-old Olivia danced a salsa for her first performance, finishing with a total of 25 points out of a possible 40. And viewers on Twitter were not impressed, making comments like, send Olivia Jade home. Stop rewarding terrible behavior. And I literally refuse to watch "Dancing with the Stars" because they put Olivia Jade on there. She's not a star. She's a criminal.
OLIVIA JADE: I just really want to show people that I have a different side to me. I have a strong work ethic.
- I got your back. I'm not really looking at your past. It's what you do here, for me, that's important.
KYLIE MAR: But not every performance had viewers feeling so jaded. And that's because former "Dance Moms" star and current YouTube personality JoJo Siwa made history on Monday, along with her pro partner, Jenna Johnson.
JOJO SIWA: For the first time in "Dancing with the Stars" history, I am dancing with another female, and I'm really, really proud. I came out in early 2021, and what I love to do is make truly being who you are easier for kids.
