Andy Cohen Walks Back Dance Shade Aimed at Julia Stiles
by Chrissy Stockton · Thought CatalogUpdated 22 seconds ago, September 17, 2026
Andy Cohen gave a well-deserved public apology to Julia Stiles on Wednesday night after she revealed that his criticism of her dancing had stuck with her.
During the September 16 episode of Dancing with the Stars, Stiles, 45, told her partner Ezra Sosa, 25, that Cohen had called her “not the greatest dancer on the planet” on his SiriusXM show last year. She said the comment was “imprinted in my brain” and had fueled her determination to prove him wrong.
“We’re gonna win the Mirrorball, sit on Andy’s couch and be like, ‘Hey!’” she said.
Stiles and Sosa performed a quickstep to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” Judge Derek Hough called the performance “beautiful” and “graceful,” then added, “Andy Cohen, you can eat it.”
Hours later, Cohen, 58, watched the clip on Watch What Happens Live and apologized. He admitted he had no business critiquing anyone’s dancing, then praised Stiles’ performance.
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“Great job, Julia Stiles. You killed it tonight. You did amazing tonight. I know you’re going to have a great run. And this diva gives all of you permission to flood my inbox with the 10 things you hate about me.”
Cohen had said in August that Dancing with the Stars approached him “many, many, many years ago,” but he turned it down. “I can’t dance on TV. No one wants to see that.”
Stiles had also declined previous invitations to compete, largely because of her fear. She said it took “a couple of years” to feel ready before deciding, “You only live once.”
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