{"id":2515619,"date":"2026-07-24T14:29:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2515619"},"modified":"2026-07-24T14:29:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:29:59","slug":"savannah-bananas-jackson-olson-talks-dwts-casting-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/savannah-bananas-jackson-olson-talks-dwts-casting-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson Talks DWTS Casting Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson<\/strong><\/a> addressed criticism that his involvement with a dancing baseball team means he may be more experienced than other celebrity contestants on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Olson, 28, took to Instagram on Thursday, July 23, to share a video of him having a pretend conversation with someone who claims he has \u201can unfair advantage\u201d because he is \u201calready a dancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The athlete then showed clips of him<\/a> performing at various Savannah Bananas games. In the videos, Olson\u2019s moves include twerking and dancing around the baseball field with a caption that reads, \u201cYeah so the first rehearsal will be interesting \ud83d\ude2d.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the comments section, DWTS<\/em> fans reminded Olson that ballroom is a different form of dance. Olson is one of four celebrities already announced for season 35 alongside The Traitors<\/em> alum Maura Higgins<\/strong>, Summer House<\/em> star Ciara Miller<\/strong> and Jimmy Kimmel Live!<\/em> sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>What to Know About Season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ So Far: Cast and More<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe Dancing With the Stars\u00a0ballroom is filling up fast for season 35. While simultaneously confirming the reality competition\u2019s renewal, Hulu shared during the Get Real House event in April that Summer House\u2019s Ciara Miller and Love Island star Maura Higgins would be lacing up their dancing shoes. The following month, Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWhen I was a kid, I never thought any of this was possible, even playing for the Bananas or anything like that,\u201d Olson said on a May episode of Good Morning America<\/em>. \u201cI was a shy kid that never danced, never put myself out there, never entertained and found a passion for it. Now, I kind of manifested it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olson reflected on his love<\/a> for the competition show.<\/p>\n

\u201c[I] posted a couple TikToks last year, just joking, \u2018Pranking my coach that I was going to be on the show,\u2019 never thinking it was a possibility,\u201d he quipped. \u201cWhen I posted it, I\u2019m, like, \u2018Maybe there is a possibility.\u2019 I saw some comments and thought, \u2018Maybe this is possible.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Olson isn\u2019t the only one nervous<\/a> about his first practice for DWTS. Miller, 30, recently told Us<\/em> she was also dealing with some anxiety about taking on such a challenging opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiterally, my friend said today, he was like, \u2018How do you think you\u2019re gonna get past the jitters?\u2019 He\u2019s like, \u2018Not only the live audience, but like the world?\u2019 I was like, \u2018You know what? I don\u2019t need this right now. I don\u2019t,\u2019\u201d Miller told Us earlier this month. \u201cI wasn\u2019t thinking about it, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>\u2018Dancing With the Stars\u2018 Pros: Where Are They Now?<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tMirrorball champs or not,\u00a0Dancing With the Stars\u00a0has featured some impeccable professional dancers in the years since the ABC competition series premiered in 2005. Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are among the talent who have lit up the ballroom. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Miller has put some thought, however, toward preparation.<\/a><\/p>\n

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