Why Harry Jowsey Joined Rylee Arnold for Thanksgiving Amidst Controversial Dating Speculations
Rylee Arnold clarifies the reasons behind spending Thanksgiving with Harry Jowsey amidst swirling dating rumors, shedding light on their bond and debunking speculations
Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold ABC/Lou Rocco
Rylee Arnold dismissed the wild rumors about her and Harry Jowsey's alleged romance and clarified the reason he joined her family for Thanksgiving. "Harry didn't have plans for Thanksgiving," explained the 18-year-old on the "Lightweights" podcast. "My family goes all out for Thanksgiving - the dinner, the games. So, I insisted that Harry join us and have a Thanksgiving this year. And he did."
Arnold and Jowsey, 26, have been the subject of romance rumors since their debut as partners on Dancing With the Stars in September. Despite their denials that they are dating, eyebrows were raised last week when the Too Hot to Handle alum joined her family's Thanksgiving celebration after their elimination from the show.
"He came to my family's Thanksgiving. They came down to California to celebrate Thanksgiving so I could be there, and he joined in and it was really enjoyable," Arnold elaborated. "I think he had a good time, and all my nieces and nephews adore him, so it was really sweet."
Arnold is the youngest of four siblings. Her older sisters - Lindsay, 29, Jensen, 26, and Brynley, 23 - all have families and children of their own. Arnold shared several pictures of her and Jowsey spending time with the kids, including one of the couple playing with Brynley and her husband Donny McGinnis' daughter Quincy.
The photo that garnered the most attention, though, featured Jowsey standing on the beach with Arnold's hand on his chest.
Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold Disney/Christopher Willard
Arnold has been reading fan comments since the start of DWTS, and she admitted that she never expected to gain this level of attention in her first year on the show.
"I can't believe that in my first season, I was part of the most talked-about couple," she shared on a recent podcast episode. "It's crazy to think that we were the most discussed couple of the season – it's just mind-blowing."
In September, dating rumors intensified after a video of the pair holding hands went viral. The speculation reached a peak when they attended the movie premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour together. Last month, Jowsey expressed his frustration with the rumors, stating that they unfairly divert attention from their performances on DWTS. He emphasized that the focus should be on their choreography and dancing, rather than their personal relationship. "It's not a dating show, it's a dancing show," he said.
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Despite their strong connection, the pair was eliminated during the live show on November 21. Although they are no longer partners on DWTS, Arnold expresses her wish to stay in touch with Jowsey.
"I hope we can remain friends because our relationship is so enjoyable and we truly connected," she said on Sunday. "Being on the show creates a strong bond between the person and their partner, as you go through so much together - stress and anxiety. I believe we really connected and had a great time together."
