A former winner of a popular televised dance competition has openly discussed the unconventional methods he used to secure victory. In a recent podcast appearance, the radio personality confessed to exceeding the strict practice time limits set for contestants, calling his actions a form of “cheating.”
The rules of the competition stipulate that celebrity participants are allotted a limited number of daily practice hours with their professional partners. The host revealed that he felt significantly behind other competitors, leading him to take matters into his own hands.
“We would do our official session, I would record it, and then I would go rent a studio myself and train alone,” he explained. “I spent extra time, against the rules, because I was so far behind everyone else.”
His win in 2018 was considered a major upset, as he consistently received lower scores from the judges compared to the other finalists. His triumph was ultimately propelled by strong support from the viewing audience’s votes.
Reflecting on his performance, he was blunt about his abilities. “I wasn’t polarizing; I just wasn’t good,” he stated, noting his scores were often among the lowest. His victory sparked criticism from some dedicated fans of the show and even drew comments from a former professional dancer and judge, who publicly stated he was not the best performer and should not have won.
The winner responded to the backlash with defiance, embracing his underdog status. “I was the worst dancer. I take pride in that,” he said in a social media post. “I’m the greatest champion ever. I didn’t say I was the greatest dancer… because I’m the man of the people. I’m the man that you guys selected.”
His win had a lasting impact on the competition itself. The following season, producers changed the voting rules, limiting how and when viewers could cast their ballots—a move widely seen as a direct response to his fan-driven victory.
Despite the controversy and his own admission of not being a skilled dancer, he looks back on the experience fondly, praising his professional partner for her tough but necessary coaching. He maintains that he tried harder than anyone, and the public’s support carried him to an unlikely win.
