Connor Wood reveals what “DWTS” judge Bruno Tonioli whispered in his ear after week 2 dance
Connor Wood reveals what “DWTS” judge Bruno Tonioli whispered in his ear after week 2 dance
Leigh BlickleyThu, September 24, 2026 at 3:35 PM UTC
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Connor Wood; Bruno TonioliCredit: Disney/Christopher Willard (2)Key Points -
Connor Wood reveals what Bruno Tonioli whispered in his ear during week 2 of DWTS.
The judge pulled Wood aside following his critiques to share another comment.
Wood and partner Rylee Arnold advanced to week 3 after scoring 15 out of 30 for their tango.
Connor Wood is spilling secrets about whispered secrets on Dancing With the Stars.
The comedian, also known as Fibula, shared what judge Bruno Tonioli whispered in his ear on Tuesday after his week 2 tango with pro partner Rylee Arnold.
Following their dance to Sombr’s viral hit “12 to 12,” Tonioli said that he “really like[s] what you two do... there were a lot of mistakes tonight and you know that.” Wood stumbled a few times during the dance, but recovered quickly.
“The good bits were excellent, so remember that,” Tonioli added, sighing in frustration.
After fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba noted Wood and Arnold’s incredible partnership and choreography, host Alfonso Ribiero signaled Wood and Arnold to head up to the skybox for their scores. But as Wood squeezed in personal handshakes with the judges, Tonioli took the opportunity to whisper further notes in his ear before being cut off by production.
What did the judge tell Wood?
“We were obviously cut off, but long story short, it was just like, ‘You know this stuff.’ And I was like, ‘I know, I know this stuff,’” Wood told PEOPLE of the exchange.
He continued, “We post [on social media] a lot, and [the judges] see what we post, and they see us working on the dance. They see the progress, and they see all of the form things and the technique. And he’s like, ‘You have this.’ And then it got cut off.”
“He was about to give me this golden piece of information, and they called me up. We had to go,” Wood reiterated. “The sentiment was that he was like, ‘I believe in you,’ essentially.”
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Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold performing on ‘Dancing With the Stars’Credit: Disney/Christopher Willard
Wood and Arnold earned a 15 out of 30 for their routine and advanced to week 3 for Yacht Rock Night.
Their partnership has been making waves on and off the dance floor as the judges and viewers alike see Wood and Arnold’s connection. When Entertainment Weekly caught up with the pair after their performance Tuesday, which ended with a lingering look, they noted that their bond was fated.
“That was an act of God,” Wood told EW of being paired with Arnold. “I really, really like everybody [but] in terms of personality match, just pure luck and fate.”
He continued, “We just have so much fun. We have the same sense of humor, which is so nice. Like, that’s huge for me. We’re in hard dance class, three-plus hours a day — that can only happen with someone you enjoy being around or else the thing is going to take a hit, so [we’re] very lucky.”
Arnold agreed, noting that she “immediately” felt a connection with Wood when they first met.
“I was like, ‘Okay, our vibes are the same. We get each other.’ And, I don’t know when it was like, ‘Oh, we’re really good friends,’ but it just happened,” she shared with EW.
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The duo is excited to continue their journey as they compete alongside the likes of Julia Stiles, Ezra Frech, Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Tatyana Ali, Amber Glenn, Tyler Cameron, Taylor Hanson, Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez.
Dancing With the Stars airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
