Derek Hough almost needed to rename his show to Dancing With the Assistants.
The Dancing With the Stars pro-turned-judge detailed an embarrassing moment in which he once accidentally mistook a celebrity’s personal assistant for the star he was paired with upon meeting them.
After a fan proposed a question for DWTS pros in a recent TikTok video, asking “if there has been a situation where one of you gets matched with a celebrity and when they walk in you don’t know who they are at the reveal,” Hough commented, “I’ve legit walked up to the PA of celebrity and said ‘are you ready to dance?’”
“My bad,” he joked, before noting, “Early days.”
Though Hough didn’t reveal which celeb he was referring to, some of his earlier partners included Jennie Garth, Shannon Elizabeth, Brooke Burke and Lil’ Kim when he appeared as pro on the dancing reality series from 2007 to 2016.
But clearly Hough isn’t too embarrassed about his missteps. This season, the 41-year-old—who joined the judge’s panel in 2020—had a different kind of faux pas when he accidentally called a celebrity contestant by the wrong name on air during the season 35 premiere on Sept. 15.
While Hough was giving feedback to The Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron and his pro partner Sharna Burgess, he referred to Cameron as “Dylan.”
“Dylan, you have this Patrick Swayze aura about you,” Hough told Cameron. “You’re cool, masculine, just effortless. For me, the frame, aw mate, we got to expand it. Marrying your presence with the technique, the frame, the posture, you’re going to be fantastic.”
Although there is no celebrity named “Dylan” in the season 35 cast, it’s possible he was thinking of 2025 finalist Dylan Efron.
And like fans who poked fun at the mix-up online, Efron—who came in fourth place in season 34 with pro partner Daniella Karagach—hilariously joined in on the fun.
After all, the influencer commented on Cameron’s Sept. 16 Instagram video recapping his first experience in the DWTS ballroom, writing, “giving us Dylan’s a good name.”
For a closer look at the stars and their partners competing for the Mirrorball Trophy this year, keep reading…
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
You won’t hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Cha-cha-chopping away… The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
The former ’90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom.
“Looks are not indicative of being in shape,” Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. “I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina.”
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn’t betray her as she manifested this experience.
“I have a vision board and I redo it every year,” she told E! News in May. “This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year’s Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board.”
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