DWTS Alum Fires Back at Season 34 Critics: Lindsay Arnold Says Be Kind, Not Cruel

Quinn Parker here, caffeinated and caffeinated again, because the tea today is piping hot and from a DWTS alum who is not here for the shade. An over-caffeinated aunt vibes are front and center as Lindsay Arnold blasts the online trash talk aimed at Season 34.

An early-season dust-up has spiraled into a full-throttle defense of the Dancing With the Stars family. Lindsay Arnold, a veteran of ten DWTS seasons and winner of season 25 with Jordan Fisher, hopped into the ring after the September 16 season 34 premiere and found herself wading through a torrent of negative commentary. In a TikTok post shared on September 18, she labeled the onslaught as “mean” and said she was literally sick to her stomach watching videos trashing the pros, the troupe, the hosts, and the judges.

You can almost hear the auntie-cupboard lid clatter as Lindsay reminds viewers that these aren’t fictional characters in a soap opera. This is real people with real lives. She pushes back against the misconception that DWTS is just a stylized TV show where viewer judgment is all in good fun. She points out that DWTS pros are professionals who study, train, and juggle grueling schedules, all while facing public scrutiny that can cut deep. The message lands with a mix of weary concern and fierce loyalty to her DWTS family.

Her defense doesn’t stop at the pros. Lindsay specifically calls out the social media sentiment that seems determined to trash every figure on screen—from the hosts to the judges. She reframes the debate by urging fans to channel their energy into something more constructive. If someone has time in their day to produce biting clips or scathing comments, she implies that person might want to reroute that energy into self-improvement. It’s a pointed reminder that the internet sometimes amplifies cruelty and glosses over the hard work behind a live, televised competition.

And yes, the thread of support runs deep. Lindsay name-drops her sister, Rylee Arnold, who is competing as a pro this season with Scott Hoying. She makes it clear that family is not just blood but a broader DWTS circle, where every pro and troupe member is part of a larger, shared mission. The takeaway is a defense of the job itself: being a pro on DWTS is one of the hardest gigs on television, and anyone who claims to know what that entails is probably underestimating the grind.

What makes this moment so spicy is not just the defense but the timing. Fall premieres bring fresh energy, but they also invite fresh commentary. Lindsay’s critique arrives as a public reminder that the show’s performers are real people who commit serious effort to every routine, rehearsal, and live performance. She doesn’t call for censorship; she calls for empathy, a rebalanced lens, and a little more positivity from the audience that loves the show enough to binge it and talk about it online for hours on end.

Her closing call to action is practical and punchy: be better, spread positivity, and perhaps reconsider how we allocate time on our screens and in our lives. It’s a reminder that DWTS is more than a glossy montage; it’s a professional ecosystem with long hours, intense competition, and a community that depends on mutual respect to keep the magic alive, season after season.

So what’s the next move in this ongoing season? If the fandom can hear the call and temper the emotional heat with a bit more kindness, the competition could feel less like a public roasting and more like the high-stakes artistry fans crave. The tea is hot, the stakes are higher, and Lindsay’s message lands with a “spill the tea, but please be kind” energy that fans can’t ignore.

What’s next to watch: will other cast members and fans jump in to amplify a kinder discourse, or will the online echo chamber push back with more brutal takes? Either way, Lindsay’s stance adds a fresh chapter to DWTS season 34, and it’s guaranteed to fuel the conversation as the scores stack and the dances dazzle.

Okay, I’m sipping again just thinking about it. This season just got a lot juicier, and the real question remains: can fans recalibrate their critique into something that respects the people who make the show shine?