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Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson said they are friends after Olson apologized for a social media comment about Rodriguez’s dancing. Olson said they spoke privately for about 30 minutes, then posted a video of the two dancing together.

Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson say they remain friends after Olson apologized for a social media comment that fans considered disrespectful to Rodriguez, their fellow contestant on Dancing With the Stars. Rodriguez told TV Insider on Tuesday that the two are competing but still having fun together, while Olson said they had talked privately and wanted to make clear there was no malicious intent between them.

Olson, an infielder with the Savannah Bananas, posted an apology on Instagram earlier Tuesday. He addressed Rodriguez and viewers, saying he was sorry for a comment he had made “the other day” and for the negativity it caused. The post included a video of the pair dancing to “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah Montana. In the caption, Olson wrote, “I love this guy,” and urged them to focus on dancing.

The controversy began with a since-deleted comment under a TikTok video posted the previous week by the Loco Beach Coconuts, a Banana Ball team. The video showed player Erik Ostberg recreating a dance Rodriguez and his professional partner, Witney Carson, had performed earlier in the season. Olson reportedly praised Ostberg’s version by asking how he had done it better than Rodriguez with two hours of rehearsal. Fans online took the remark as a slight against Rodriguez.

In comments to TV Insider after the apology, Olson said he had gone to Rodriguez’s trailer and they had spoken for about 30 minutes. He said they agreed to clear the air and show people they were friends. Rodriguez likewise described Olson as a good guy and said the two were enjoying the competition. The statements provide both men’s accounts of where their relationship stands; neither described the disagreement as an ongoing conflict.

A Dispute Resolved on the Show

The exchange matters because the comment concerned two contestants appearing together on a televised competition, where viewers can interpret remarks about performance as personal criticism. The public apology and the contestants’ own descriptions of their relationship offer a direct response to the online reaction, rather than leaving fans to rely only on speculation about tension between them.

Both men have emphasized that they are friends as well as competitors. Olson’s apology acknowledged that his words had caused negativity, while Rodriguez’s response focused on their continuing friendship and enjoyment of the show. Their comments do not establish how every viewer interpreted the original remark, but they make clear that the contestants themselves say they have resolved the matter.

How the Comment Drew Attention

The incident began after Olson commented on a TikTok clip featuring Ostberg imitating a dance from Rodriguez and Carson’s DWTS performance. Olson’s comparison about rehearsal time was reportedly intended as praise for Ostberg, but some fans read it as putting Rodriguez down. The comment was later deleted. The available account does not establish who removed it or when.

Olson and Rodriguez are both contestants on the same season of Dancing With the Stars, while Olson is also known as a Savannah Bananas infielder. The show places competitors in a shared setting, and the dispute played out through social media as well as their interactions behind the scenes. Olson’s account of their private conversation and the video he posted with the apology supplied a public follow-up to the online criticism.

““We’re friends. We’re competing against each other, but we’re friends. We’re having fun. He’s a good guy.””

— Guillermo Rodriguez, speaking to TV Insider

What the Public Record Shows

The exact circumstances behind the original comment remain limited to the reported wording and the social media response. The comment has been deleted, and the account does not provide a direct explanation from Olson about what he intended when he wrote it. Olson did say he was sorry for the comment and the negativity it caused, but further details about the private conversation have not been reported.

It is also unclear whether the episode will come up again on the program or affect how the contestants interact in later broadcasts. Neither man described any continuing dispute, and their statements point to a reconciliation, but the available details do not address what prompted the original wording beyond the comparison with Ostberg’s dance.

The Competition Continues

For now, Rodriguez and Olson are continuing as contestants on Dancing With the Stars, and both have said they are on friendly terms. Olson’s Instagram post paired the apology with a dance video and a call to focus on the show’s performances. No further statement or specific next step from either man was reported.

The next public indication of how the two are getting along may come through their appearances on the program or any further comments they choose to make. Unless either contestant adds more detail, the confirmed account remains straightforward: Olson apologized, the two spoke privately, and both say they are friends despite competing against each other.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Key Questions

Why did Jackson Olson apologize to Guillermo Rodriguez?

Olson apologized for a social media comment comparing Erik Ostberg’s recreation of a Rodriguez dance to Rodriguez’s performance. Fans viewed Olson’s comment as disrespectful to Rodriguez.

What did Olson say in the comment?

Olson reportedly asked how Ostberg had done the dance better than Rodriguez with two hours of rehearsal. The comment appeared under a TikTok video and was later deleted.

Are Rodriguez and Olson still friends?

Yes. Rodriguez told TV Insider they were friends, and Olson described them as “truly friends.” Olson also said they spoke privately for about 30 minutes.

Where did Olson apologize?

Olson posted his apology on Instagram. The post included a video of him and Rodriguez dancing to Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect.”

Source: Los Angeles Times