Professional dancer Witney Carson, who recently clinched the Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing With The Stars, has found herself at the centre of a social media storm. The 32-year-old champion was called out by fans for a remark perceived as 'shady' directed at fellow contestant Dylan Efron and his famous brother, Hollywood actor Zac Efron.
The Controversial Text Exchange
Ahead of the Tuesday finale, Carson shared a now-deleted Instagram Reel featuring a screenshot of a text exchange with her husband, Carson McAllister, also 32. While McAllister's message praised her performance as 'freaking good', it was an earlier part of their conversation that caught the sharp eyes of viewers.
The trouble began when McAllister texted, 'Zac Efron is here,' noting that Dylan's 38-year-old brother had finally appeared in the audience for the November 18 semi-finals to show his support. Carson's swift reply was: 'I saw! They are trying to get votes.' This single line ignited immediate controversy, with many fans interpreting it as a cynical dismissal of a brother's genuine support.
Fan Fury and Accusations of Hypocrisy
The screenshot was quickly deleted, but not before it was widely circulated and criticised. On platforms like Reddit, fans slammed Carson's comment as 'rude' and pointed out what they saw as glaring hypocrisy.
Many noted that Carson's own partner, Robert Irwin, had consistently been supported by his family throughout the competition. His sister, Bindi Irwin, 27, who won season 21 of the show, was a frequent presence in the audience alongside their mother, Terri, and even appeared on stage with them during one performance.
One fan commented, 'This is so rude to say let alone post… if he really wanted to get votes that desperately he could’ve had Zac there every week.' Another added, 'Yeah this is not a good look for her. Why would she post this, its not like she hasnt done the same thing every week with the Irwin fam.' The sentiment was echoed by others who felt it was unfair to criticise Dylan for having his famous brother in the audience when Robert's family support was a cornerstone of their own campaign.
Aftermath and a Public Reconciliation
Despite the online furore, the competition concluded with Carson and Robert Irwin winning the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. Dylan Efron and his professional partner, Daniella Karagach, finished in fourth place. The semi-finals, where Zac Efron appeared with his five-year-old sister Olivia, remained his only audience appearance; he was notably absent for the finale.
In an apparent move to quell speculation of any real-life drama, Carson took to social media on Friday following her win. She shared a photo of Dylan with Daniella Karagach alongside a gushing caption. She praised Daniella as 'an absolute beast' and an inspiration, and commended Dylan, writing, 'to see you shine and grow each week was such a pleasure to watch — not to mention how down to earth you are! I'm a fan for life.'
This victory marks Carson's second Mirrorball Trophy, having previously won with Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum Alfonso Ribeiro in Season 19. For the Irwin family, winning Dancing With The Stars has become a tradition, a fact Robert honoured by quoting his sister: 'My sister said it best. Thank you for changing my life.'
