Dancing With the Stars is back baby!
The season, which is actually Dancing With the Stars: Athletes is strictly filled with famous athletes, obviously.
There are countless Olympians dancing across the ballroom floor this season. Like Adam Rippon, Chris Mazdzer, Jennie Finch Daigle, Jamie Anderson, Mirai Nagasu, and Tonya Harding.
It made the most sense to have Adam Rippon and Mirai Nagasu on the show after they made headlines at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Just this year, Mirai became the first American female figure skater to land a triple axel at the Olympics, and the third woman ever for any country.
The most talked about addition to this season’s lineup of Dancing With the Stars: Athletes, however, was Tonya Harding.
The two-time Olympian and two-time Skate America Champion had been previously disgraced in her field, after a very public controversy, in which her ex-husband brutally attacked fellow US Olympian, Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 Winter Olympic games.
After the games ending, Tonya ultimately pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution and was banned for life from the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Since then, she had a very public fallout, was demonized by the media, and tried to rebuild her life to get past the story.
In 2017, I, Tonya was released, starring Margot Robbie as Tonya and Allison Janney as Tonya’s domineering mother.
When the film was nominated for several Oscars, Tonya came back into the spotlight and got a chance to tell her side of the story. She wasn’t trying to ask for forgiveness and now, she’s at the front of the media again as the focus of DWTS is on her.
Last night, she made her debut performance after 23 years and it was actually incredible.
Tonya warned the judges that even when she was a professional skater, she wasn’t known for being graceful. It seems that by saying that, she was out to prove herself wrong.
The judges, who wanted to make it clear they were here to talk about dancing and dancing alone, loved Tonya’s performance with her pro dance partner, Sasha Farber.
They thought Sasha and Tonya exuded confidence, elegance, and fluidity while they foxtrotted to “When You Believe” by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
Before the show, Tonya told E! News that she was praying Monday wouldn’t be her last dance.
“I was like, ‘No, lord, please, don’t let this be the last dance. I’m finally learning how to be a lady and learned how to dance and I haven’t lost my last five pounds yet.”
It wasn’t her last dance! Tonya and Sasha scored a 23 out of 30 and made it to the next week of the competition.
Allison Janney was even in the audience to root Tonya on. Hopefully, she’ll be there every week as her good luck charm!
The video has almost has 400,000 views on the Dancing With the Stars Facebook, where many fans of the show are torn between supporting Tonya and vilifying her.
One Facebook commenter supported and defended Tonya being on the show:
I remember it all, as I followed skating closely back then. All she was guilty of was obstruction of justice, and if she truly was afraid of her ex, it’s understandable if you’ve ever been in that kind of situation. But whatever happened, she’s paid her dues.
Almost 25 years, and having her past, present and future ripped from her. Banned for life from professional skating as a skater or coach, no exibitions, etc. She’s had a rough time, as not many would take her on in the years after.
Am I a fan? Not before tonight. But I was touched by her and how much this obviously meant to her. To go on stage and not know if you’ll be booed or clapped. That takes courage. And she did a lovely job. I think she got some redemption tonight. The past is in the past.
What do you think?
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