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Why Wasn’t Cody Rigsby Paired With a Man on Dancing With the Stars?
JoJo Siwa made history on the show, but why not Rigsby?
This season of Dancing With The Stars has made LGBTQ+ history. Out reality TV star JoJo Siwa has become the first contestant in 30 seasons to compete in a same-gender pairing, and she's been slaying every episode since alongside Jenna Johnson.
But there's another LGBTQ+ contestant on the show. Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby is competing alongside partner Cheryl Burke.
Now, in a new interview with GLAAD, Rigsby answers the question many have asked: why wasn't the gay 34-year-old paired with male dancer?
“When the conversation opportunity came up for Dancing With The Stars, I was just so excited to be on the show, I guess I didn’t even think it was a possibility,” he explained. “So I didn’t bring it up. Had I maybe had a moment to breathe and recognize an opportunity, I definitely would have asked!”
While the opportunity has passed for Rigsby, he hopes the door is now open for future LGBTQ+ contestants, adding "I know that Val [Chmerkovskiy] is really open to having a same-sex partner for next season and I think that would be incredible!”
Regardless, Rigsby is happy to participate in the show and commends what Siwa has done for representation on the show. "She’s incredible, what she is doing on this show, representing (the LGBTQ community) is amazing. She is showing a lot of little girls and little boys who they can be and giving them permission to create their own path. She is just so wildly herself in so many ways!”
He also hopes that both of them can make it all the way to the end. “I think that would be an amazing finale!
A new episode of Dancing With The Stars premieres tonight on ABC.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
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