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‘DWTS’: Rylee Arnold Explains Intimate Moment in Connor Wood’s Week 2 Dance
What To Know
- Rylee Arnold and Connor Wood ended Week 2 of Dancing With the Stars with an intimate moment that had fans buzzing.
- In an interview with Swooon, Arnold explained what was really going on between her and her partner.
- She also confirmed she has “chemistry” with Wood and revealed why that’s been so helpful.
The judges only gave comedian Connor Wood and his pro partner, Rylee Arnold, a 15/30 for their performance on Week 2 of Dancing With the Stars, but it was the intense look they gave each other at the end of their tango that had fans buzzing.
TV Insider talked to the duo on the post-show press line last night to get the scoop on their intimate gaze. “It’s just dancing,” Arnold said with a smile. “I’ve grown up being close to a man’s face since I was 10 years old. Honestly, it’s just second nature.”
Arnold, who’s dating BYU football player Walker Lyons, says that it’s important, especially in a dance like the tango, to have chemistry with your dance partner. “To have that chemistry helps you get through the dance, get through the steps,” she added. “Again, for me, I grew up doing this.”
The moment has already started going viral, which is quite fitting, considering it happened on Viral Hits night. But Arnold says those potential viral moments have to happen naturally, noting that, as a choreographer, she’d never plop one into a routine unless it fit the dance.
“I always try to let it just happen organically,” she explained. “The minute you try to make something viral, it never hits the same. I definitely just try to choreograph the best dance that I can.”
Although the judges didn’t give Arnold and Wood great scores this week, they praised the pair’s work ethic while giving thier critiques. “I really like what you two do,” Bruno Tonioli said. “When you are connected, when you’re on it, you present beautiful [lines], clear crisp, you can do it. The good bits were excellent so, remember that.”
WHAT WAS THIS??? 😭😭😭#DWTS https://t.co/xcveqCWm3W pic.twitter.com/qjAHUMZUQR
— Johann (@johanntimkang) September 23, 2026
“You were in it! You were so musical,” Carrie Ann Inaba gushed. “You were interpreting the music. You had good form. Everything about it was so good. This partnership? I love this partnership. The choreography was really fantastic.”
Arnold plans on taking both the criticism and the compliments with her as she and Wood move into next week. “We’re going to lock in, work on our technique, make sure that Connor feels super confident in all the steps,” Arnold previewed. “But I think we’re in a good spot for Week 2, and we’re going to build on that.”
Progress is key to a couple’s journey on DWTS, and Wood is happy with his journey so far on the show. “Growth is the biggest [part],” he said. “I know it sounds like a cop-out answer, but it’s phenomenal. It’s growth that you don’t notice because we’re working 24/7. Mentally, you don’t notice the growth because it happens so gradually. But if you look back to last week, it’s like [I’m a] different person. Even though I had some missteps [this week], I can’t believe that I can even do this! Rylee’s choreography is phenomenal.”
Wood quipped in the skybox to host Julianne Hough that all he needed was a few more days to perfect his and Arnold’s routine! Speaking of adding another day to DWTS, how would Arnold feel if the results show were to come back?
“That would be really cool,” she confirmed. “I remember when my sister [Lindsay Arnold] would have that when she was on Dancing With the Stars. I always loved that results show!”
Dancing With the Stars, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+
