News is trickling in about theDancing with the Starsseason 34 lineup, and the latest revelation makes it easy to question the producers' decisions.
Dancing With The Starsseason 34includes returning hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, as well as contestants Robert Irwin and Alix Earle. During season 2’sThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesreunion, more information was revealed about not one but two newDWTScontestants.
Most of theSecret Lives Of Mormon Wivescast auditioned forDWTS, with Jen Affleck andThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives' Whitney Leavittselected to compete for the mirrorball. While it’s not unusual for reality stars to make their way onto the dance floor, this latest casting choice could lead to potential devastation for the show and its stars.
DWTS Is Favoring The SLMW Cast Too Much
One SLMW Pick Would Have Been Enough
Dancing With The Starsmade an interesting choice by casting two women from the same reality show. While Whitney and Jen will draw inSLMWfans, it might be too much of a good thing.They’re running the risk of over-saturating the castwith stars from one show rather than providing a diverse mix of contestants.
Having two reality stars who are fresh off the current season is a recipe for drama.
Having two reality stars who are fresh off the current season is a recipe for drama. Jen and Whitney’s long and complicated relationship means they already have a lot of baggage. Now that their relationship has entered a competitive level, it could either draw them closer or push them further apart.
DWTS Could Take Too Much Of A Toll On Jen’s Mental Health
She Recently Completed Inpatient Treatment
The biggest concern about Jen’s casting onDWTSis her recent mental health challenges.Jen stepped back fromThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesin the middle of season 2 to seek treatment for her mental health. At the time, Jen was pregnant and living with depression, trauma, and marital issues.
Jen had multiple stressors in her life, and filming certainly wasn’t helping the situation. Although she has completed treatment and, fortunately, appears to be in a much better mental state, taking on another daunting challenge so soon might not be the right choice.
Jen also recently welcomed her third child, Penelope, shortly after the news of her casting was revealed. Postpartum can be a very challenging stage, and the added pressures of preparing for a physical competition may add to Jen’s stress.
Jen Could Fail Badly Or Pull Out Of The Competition
She Doesn’t Need The Pressure
If Jen is in a fragile place in her life, the rigors ofDancing With The Starsmight intensify her problems. Although Jen is well-versed in dancing in MomTok reels, competitive dancing is a whole other ballgame.The training schedule is incredibly draining, and a slip-up or early elimination can be a damaging blow to her self-esteem.
Jen’s withdrawal fromSLMWproves that she knows how to prioritize her health. If she feels that she’s having a hard time duringDWTS, she may similarly decide to pull out of the competition. This could make Jen feel like she’d failed, which is the last thing she needs after successfully completing treatment.
Hopefully,Dancing With The Starswill help Jen to stay strong at this point in her life. While it’s odd for her to have a costar in the cast, perhaps Whitney will be a shoulder to lean on if times get hard. However, as Jen takes on this enormous challenge, it’s easy to be concerned about her and the pressure she’s under.
