‘I Was Not Wowed’: Joey Graziadei’s Winning Performance Criticized as He Takes Home ‘DWTS’ Mirrorball
The winners of “Dancing with the Stars” season 33 have been announced, but social media remain divided, questioning if the champion truly earned the reward.
Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson danced their way to victory, claiming the coveted “Dancing with the Stars” Mirrorball trophy. Yet, the results sparked debate among fans.
A netizen’s comment on Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson’s performance in the “Dancing with the Stars” finale, posted on November 26, 2024 | Source: Facebook.com/dancingwiththestars
Graziadei’s victory was groundbreaking, becoming the first “The Bachelor” star to win the show. In a tightly contested finale, he and Johnson competed against Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher and her partner Alan Bersten for the championship.
Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced the final standings: professional dancer Koko Iwasaki and real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky in fifth place, Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold in fourth. Actress Xochitl Gomez and Brandon Armstrong ranked third.
Joey Graziadei, Jenna Johnson, Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough, Ilona Maher, and Alan Bersten during the “Dancing with the Stars” finale, posted on November 26, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Graziadei, overwhelmed by the moment, called the experience “unbelievable.” He said as confetti rained down, “Honestly, everyone from the beginning, Ilona, you have an amazing this season. I love you, all the finalists in it, the judges — thank you for bearing with us, I tried my best, I promise!”
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson hold their Mirrorball Trophy during “Dancing with the Stars” on November 26, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
However, his victory has ignited a debate, with some fans questioning whether his final performances truly stood out in a season full of exceptional talent.
The finale featured two routines from Graziadei and Johnson. First, their redemption of Cha Cha to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” impressed the judges. Derek Hough reacted, “That was a punctuation mark, letting everybody know that you are a top contender on this show.”
Bruno Tonioli, on the other hand, described their number as “a sparkling jewel of a cha cha cha polished to perfection!” The duo earned a perfect score of 30/30.
For their freestyle routine, Graziadei and Johnson merged Graziadei’s love for tennis with dance, performing to “Canned Heat” by District 78 ft. Jake Simpson. The routine featured...
