Two months ago, collegiate gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, who went viral with her perfect 10 floor exercise routine in January, was the first celebrity to throw her hat in the “Dancing with the Stars” ring for Season 28, revealing that she’s had “casual conversations” with producers about doing the show. So have those conversations gone anywhere?
“No…” Ohashi told “Access Hollywood” Wednesday on the ESPY Awards red carpet (watch above), her voice trailing off. Told she’s not a good liar, she said, “I don’t know how –“, indicating that she doesn’t know how much she’s allowed to reveal. But she went all in anyway: “I don’t believe it’s happening. Whatever happens, happens.”
SEE Don’t flip out, but this athlete might be on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ next season
Ohashi, who won Best Play at the ESPYs and delivered a speech in the form of a poem to clap back at body-shamers, could be lying, but her nervous laughter, hesitation to answer the question and disappointment in her face suggest she’s telling the truth that she won’t be on the show. That wasn’t a polished, ready-to-go tease-y deflection like you would hear from actors or anyone familiar in the spotlight when they can’t answer something outright.
The 22-year-old All-American and UCLA graduate told “Los Angeles” magazine in May that she would love be on “Dancing” and already had eyes on Sasha Farber as her partner. Farber took fellow Olympic champ Simone Biles, a good friend of Ohashi’s, to fourth place on Season 24. “He did absolutely amazing,” Ohashi said of his work with the gymnast then.
SEE ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 28 has a premiere date, and it’s sooner than you think
Of course, even though Ohashi isn’t doing the show right now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that will be the case a month from now when the cast will be announced. She could be a backup. Other stars might reject it and people could drop out at the last minute. Maybe a deal can’t be struck. Maybe Farber will put the squeeze on TPTB to cast her (lol, unlikely).
Ohashi typically fits the profile of someone “Dancing” would cast, a young’un who achieved instant notoriety online, and even better, she’s an athlete as well. Her booty-shaking number, backed by a medley of pop hits, including “Proud Mary” and “I Want You Back,” is also begging to be incorporated into a “Dancing” routine. However, in an effort to come back with a bang after an extended hiatus, “Dancing” is going after bigger celebrities for next season, ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke revealed in May. And, well, Ohashi is not that (no offense).
SEE Tom Bergeron has dropped another hint about possible voting changes on ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Other celebs who’ve expressed interest in “Dancing” so far are Jennifer Love Hewitt, Robert Irwin (brother of Season 21 champ Bindi), Natasha Bure (daughter of Season 18’s Candace Cameron Bure) and Jordin Sparks, who is more terrified of possibly doing it than excited.
The cast will likely be revealed sometime in August. Season 28 of “Dancing with the Stars” premieres Monday, Sept. 16 at 8/7c on ABC.
SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
