Charity Lawson Expresses Surprise Over Judges’ Feedback on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Monster Night
Charity Lawson shares her honest reaction to receiving critical feedback from the judges on 'Dancing With the Stars' Monster Night, following her impressive first 10 of the season
Charity Lawson and her partner Artem Chigvintsev are receiving harsher criticism from the judges as the competition on Dancing With the Stars intensifies.
"I appreciated the feedback," shared the Bachelorette star, 27, in an exclusive interview with We on Tuesday, October 31, following their performance on Monster Night. "I've been seeking constructive criticism for a few weeks now, so I'm glad I finally have something to work on."
However, Lawson expressed her confusion regarding some of the judges' comments on her and Chigvintsev's jive to "Skeleton Sam" by LVCRFT. Derek Hough suggested that Lawson could draw inspiration from fellow contestant Lele Pons' prowess and intensity on the dance floor, while Carrie Ann Inaba mentioned the need for sharper leg movements. Guest judge and former DWTS competitor Niecy Nash also mentioned that their under-the-leg slide appeared a bit "clunky."
Nevertheless, Lawson remained optimistic, stating, "Any feedback is beneficial for me as a dancer who strives to improve." Despite the critique, she and Chigvintsev received the fourth-highest score of 38 points by the end of the night.
After receiving the first perfect score of the season from Inaba, Lawson and Chigvintsev were filled with excitement as they entered the Monster Night competition on Tuesday. Their emotional contemporary routine during Most Memorable Year Night on October 24 had left a lasting impression. Reflecting on the moment, Lawson expressed, "It was an incredible feeling because we didn't expect it. When you have no expectations, there's no opportunity for disappointment. We were just hoping for a nine, so to receive a perfect ten was absolutely amazing."
Throughout her journey on DWTS, Lawson has found comfort in her fiancé, Dotun Olubeko. Their engagement took place during the season 20 finale of The Bachelorette in August, and since then, Olubeko has been a pillar of support for her.
Disney/Eric McCandless
"This is incredibly difficult and I truly believe that even without him, I would still be performing exceptionally well. However, his presence has significantly reduced the stress and mental burden for both me and my team," she enthusiastically declared. "He acts as an additional pillar of support, always ready to offer a helping hand with the smallest tasks, such as 'How can I assist you tonight?' or 'Can I run an errand for you?' Time is incredibly valuable, especially when I'm engrossed in rehearsals and devoted to dedicating my life to this craft. Therefore, he is undeniably an angel."
While she and Chigvintsev are currently occupied with DWTS rehearsals, Lawson expressed her desire to eventually go on a double date with the ballroom professional and his wife, Nikki Garcia. "I'm looking forward to finally meeting Nikki in person," said the Bachelor Nation star. "Well, I did have the opportunity to meet her on a podcast, but not face-to-face." Garcia, aged 39, previously participated with Chigvintsev on season 25 of DWTS before getting married in 2022.
Disney/Eric McCandless
Chigvintsev confirmed that his family has been a valuable source of support during this season. Unfortunately, he was unable to accompany his son, Matteo, on Halloween for trick-or-treating. Jokingly, he advised Matteo to ration his candy throughout the week instead of consuming it all at once. Don't forget to catch Dancing With the Stars on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Hannah Kahn
