Exclusive: Sharna Burgess Opens Up About Explosive Feud with Jesse Metcalfe on DWTS
DWTS' Sharna Burgess sheds light on the alleged tension with Jesse Metcalfe during their partnership on 'Dancing With the Stars' Gain insights into their dynamic and discover the truth behind the rumors Subscribe for more exclusive updates!
Sharna Burgess and Jesse Metcalfe. Getty Images (2)
Sharna Burgess discussed the apparent issues between her and Jesse Metcalfe on Dancing With the Stars and commended ABC for their handling of the situation. During an episode of the "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans" podcast on Tuesday, September 26, Burgess, 38, opened up about her previous statements regarding her DWTS partner "after" season 28's Bobby Bones, as mentioned by host Cheryl Burke. (Though she didn't mention Metcalfe by name on the podcast, Burgess described their partnership in season 29 as "extremely challenging" earlier this month.)
Amidst COVID, Burgess provided further explanation on dealing with the purported conflict involving Metcalfe, aged 44.
"Due to the scaled back crew and limited surveillance, not all rehearsals were closely monitored or recorded," she clarified. "This posed challenges for me. Nevertheless, I followed the necessary protocols and, although I couldn't capture everything, I managed to record certain instances. I reached out to the appropriate authorities, filed reports, and received the necessary support."
Burgess emphasized that the situation did not have any sexual nature.
However, Burke, 39, highlighted that Burgess's discomfort alone justified her decision to speak out. Burgess expressed gratitude for the support, affirming, "I took the correct course of action by reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities. Speaking up allowed me to perform my duties without feeling ashamed or afraid."
Courtesy of Sharna Burgess/Instagram
During season 16 of the ABC series, Burgess made her debut as a professional dancer. Throughout her time on the show, she partnered with a number of well-known celebrities, such as Andy Dick, Nick Carter, Antonio Brown, Bones, Metcalfe, and her then-boyfriend (and now-fiancé) Brian Austin Green.
Earlier this month, Burgess hinted at a tense and challenging relationship with Metcalfe. "Due to certain incidents, I was unable to be alone in a room with him after the initial weeks. Our working dynamic was rocky, resulting in our quick elimination," she mentioned on her podcast "Oldish" without explicitly naming the actor.
Subsequently, Metcalfe's representative released a statement in response to Burgess' remarks, stating, "If she is referring to a time when our client Jesse Metcalfe collaborated with Ms. Burgess four years ago, their recollection is simply that they did not get along. Making vague insinuations is not only irresponsible but also irrelevant."
During Tuesday's podcast, Burgess talked about how she has become more vocal concerning issues that may arise on the dance floor.
"In the past, I had two dance partners who made me feel extremely uncomfortable. When I was younger, I would brush it off and try to tolerate it, pretending that everything was fine," she explained. "This happened a long time ago, before I grew and learned from my experiences. It is important to note that I am not the only one who has gone through this."
Burgess went on to say that being on a show like Dancing With the Stars, where men and women dance together and experience close contact while creating stories and intentions, can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. However, Burgess emphasized that she has learned how to address and prevent such issues from occurring again.
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Early in Burgess' career, she encountered a surprising incident where she struggled to address the issue correctly. After a partner made advances towards her and she rejected him, he became frustrated by her lack of reciprocation.
Seeking guidance, Burgess confided in a producer who advised her to go along with the situation. She recalled, "[They said], 'You know what men are like.' It wasn't until the rise of the Me Too movement that I realized women were speaking out about both major and minor incidents. And I thought, 'Wow, that happened to me too.' I hadn't even considered that I had the power to speak up."
In this article
Jesse Metcalfe
Sharna Burgess
