Dancing With the Stars champion Witney Carson has landed in the middle of an unexpected social media controversy just days after celebrating her latest victory. The 32-year-old pro dancer quickly moved to correct the narrative after a private text exchange with her husband, Carson McAllister, surfaced online and sparked backlash.
Witney had shared an Instagram post featuring a screenshot of her text conversation with McAllister, where the couple joked about her fellow finalist Dylan Efron and his brother, Hollywood star Zac Efron. In the messages, they appeared to poke fun at Dylan for having Zac attend the live finale, suggesting it could help sway public votes.
The post spread rapidly, drawing criticism from social media users who felt Witney was belittling her competitor. Many argued that family support was normal, especially since other contestants were also joined by loved ones during the finale. Some, however, defended the dancer, calling the exchange light-hearted and harmless.
Following the backlash, Witney swiftly deleted the post, though screenshots continued circulating online. In the leaked texts, McAllister wrote, “Zac Efron is here,” to which Witney responded, “I saw! They are trying to get votes.”
She elaborated further in the exchange, saying she believed Zac avoided attending earlier episodes to prevent assumptions that Dylan’s progress was linked to his brother’s star power rather than his own hard work throughout the season.
Despite the controversy, fans continue to celebrate Witney’s impressive win, recognizing her long-standing dedication to Dancing With the Stars and her strong connection with viewers.