Brad Deiter had “Dancing With the Stars” fans thinking he was about to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy.
The actor, host and social media personality shared a convincing graphic on Instagram on August 22 announcing that he would join Season 35 of the popular ABC competition series.
Getty“Secret is out! This was not an easy one to keep!” Brad wrote alongside the image.
The graphic claimed the social media star would compete with Julianne Hough as his professional partner. There was only one problem: Julianne is returning as a co-host, not a professional dancer.
Brad Deiter’s Post Fooled ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Fans
Brad’s post appears to have been a playful fake-out rather than an official casting announcement.
The comments revealed that several fans believed the news before realizing what was happening.
“Well you had me for a moment,” one person wrote.
“I just got soooo excited only and then so sad in 2 seconds,” another follower added.
One fan even encouraged Julianne to return to the dance floor, writing, “Come on, DWTS!!! Come on out of retirement and do this with him.”
Julianne competed as a professional dancer on “Dancing With the Stars” before becoming a judge and later a co-host. She is expected to return alongside Alfonso Ribeiro for Season 35.
Brad may not be heading to the ballroom, but the timing of his post was perfect. Fans are currently waiting for ABC to reveal the season’s complete lineup.
Who Is Joining ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35?
ABC has already announced four celebrities who will compete this season.
“Summer House” star Ciara Miller and “Love Island” alum Maura Higgins were the first contestants confirmed. Both women also previously competed on Peacock’s reality competition series “The Traitors.”
Savannah Bananas baseball player and content creator Jackson Olson will also trade the baseball diamond for the ballroom.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” personality Guillermo Rodriguez is the fourth confirmed celebrity.
Guillermo will compete with professional dancer Witney Carson, making them the first official pairing announced for the season. Witney is returning after winning Season 34 with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin.
The complete celebrity cast and professional pairings will be revealed on “Good Morning America” on September 2.
What to Expect From the Upcoming Season
Season 35 of “Dancing With the Stars” will premiere with a special two-night event on September 15 and 16.
The show will air live on ABC and Disney+, with episodes becoming available on Hulu the following day.
Alfonso and Julianne are expected to return as hosts. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli will once again evaluate the celebrity performances from the judges’ table.
The season will also introduce a professional dancer selected through the spinoff “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.” Hosted by Robert, the series followed 12 rising dancers competing for a professional contract on the main show.
Producers have also teased a larger celebrity cast and fresh partnerships, which means several surprises are still coming.
Brad might not be one of the celebrities competing this season, but his post proves that fans are watching closely for any clue about who will enter the ballroom next.
