Hilaria Baldwin is addressing speculation surrounding her debut on Dancing With the Stars Season 34, insisting her casting came naturally and was not the result of lobbying efforts.
The mother of seven, who is paired with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko, told reporters backstage that she had not sought out the opportunity. “That’s actually not true. I did not campaign. It was, like, not on my radar,” Baldwin said, laughing off claims she angled for a spot on the show.
Watch Dancing With the Stars Season 34 on ABC/Hulu/ Disney Plus in Australia
Her comments came after DWTS co-host Julianne Hough suggested on the Chicks in the Office podcast that Baldwin’s viral TikTok dance clips with husband Alec Baldwin appeared to be a campaign for the show. Baldwin countered that producers contacted her only days before the official cast announcement, forcing her to quickly relocate her family to Los Angeles.
No Competitive Advantage
Baldwin also pushed back on the notion that her previous ballroom dance training gives her an edge in the competition. The 41-year-old acknowledged she once competed but explained a hip injury had ended that chapter years ago.
She praised her fellow contestants including gymnast Jordan Chiles, conservationist Robert Irwin, TikTok star Alix Earle, actress Danielle Fishel, and reality personality Dylan Efron calling the cast “special” and emphasizing that each brings unique strengths. Baldwin described the environment as “the most warm and loving” rather than cutthroat.
Alec Baldwin as Her Biggest Supporter
Hilaria Baldwin credited her husband for encouraging her to take the leap. Speaking to PEOPLE at the Season 34 premiere, she revealed Alec Baldwin had urged her for years to consider the show. His enthusiasm, she said, has only grown since she joined the cast with Savchenko.
Alec Baldwin has been present during rehearsals and in the audience, praising his wife’s dedication. “She’s a hard worker. I’m proud of her, very proud of her,” he said.
Past Struggles and Public Scrutiny
Beyond the ballroom, Baldwin has been candid about challenges in her family life. In her memoir Manual Not Included, she detailed Alec Baldwin’s health struggles following the 2021 Rust shooting, describing hospitalizations, mobility issues, and her fears for his survival as legal proceedings took their toll.
She has also spoken publicly about facing backlash over her Spanish-inflected speech. On her family podcast, The Baldwins, she explained that her shifting between cultural identities what she now recognizes as code-switching was misunderstood. “I had to learn about it because the whole world was mean to me, and so I had to learn it,” Baldwin said.
Despite past criticism, Baldwin said she is focused on her journey in the ballroom, determined to let her dancing speak for itself.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment!