Fans Blindsided by Shocking DWTS Season 35 Cast Leaks
Surprise Spoilers Reveal New Dancers for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 35!
TL;DR: Internet detectives on Reddit have uncovered three brand-new celebrity contestants for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars—and they are not the usual Hollywood A-listers. Think TikTok stars, reality TV siblings, and a husband stepping out of his famous wife’s shadow.
The Big News: Three Fresh Names Leaked on Reddit
On August 19, a trusted DWTS insider (who has been right for multiple seasons) dropped major hints on the subreddit r/dancingwiththestars. Fans put on their detective hats and solved the puzzles quickly. Here is who is reportedly joining the ballroom:
Male Contestant #1: Connor Wood (A.K.A. "Fibula")
Who is he?
Connor is a social media influencer and comedian who blew up on TikTok during the pandemic. His online nickname is "Fibula" (yes, like the bone in your leg!).
How Fans Figured It Out
The insider gave three cryptic clues:
- Bones → His handle is @Fibula.
- Bumble Bees → He used to work at the dating app Bumble (until he was laid off during COVID).
- Podcasts → He hosts a popular podcast.
His DWTS Connections
- He follows pros Rylee Arnold and Emma Slater on Instagram.
- He is real-life friends with Dylan Efron (younger brother of Zac Efron), who competed on Season 34.
Female Contestant: Sarah Jane Nader
Who is she?
She is the younger sister of Brooks Nader, who danced on Season 33. Sarah Jane is a reality TV star in her own right!
The Clues Were "Sister" & "Yacht"
- First Hint: "Sister" → Fans immediately thought of Brooks Nader’s sisters.
- Second Hint: "Yacht" → Sarah Jane made headlines recently for celebrating Brooks’ birthday on a yacht (after Brooks had a food poisoning scare).
Her Claim to Fame
- Family Business: She stars alongside Brooks and their two other sisters (Mary Holland & Grace Ann) on the Hulu reality show Love Thy Nader (Season 2 coming in 2026!).
- Tabloid Fame: She was spotted on a date with comedian Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live alum) earlier this year.
Fun Pattern Alert: DWTS cast two stars from Hulu’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives last season (Jen Affleck & Whitney Leavitt). Casting a star from another Hulu show (Love Thy Nader) fits the new strategy perfectly!
Male Contestant #2: Conner Leavitt
Who is he?
He is the husband of Whitney Leavitt—one of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars who competed on Season 33.
The Spoiler Situation
- This leak also came from Reddit on August 19.
- Many superfans had already suspected he might join after seeing him support Whitney in the audience last season.
- Now, it looks official: The husband is getting his own mirrorball shot!
The "So Far" Scorecard: Spoiled vs. Confirmed
IMPORTANT: None of the names below have been officially announced by ABC yet. They are strong rumors from a historically accurate source.
Heavily Spoiled / Leaked Cast (The "Open Secrets")
| Celebrity | Known For |
|---|---|
| Connor Wood | TikTok Star / "Fibula" / Ex-Bumble Employee |
| Sarah Jane Nader | Love Thy Nader (Hulu) / Brooks Nader’s Sister |
| Conner Leavitt | Husband of Whitney Leavitt (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) |
| Harry Shum Jr. | Actor (Glee, Shadowhunters, Crazy Rich Asians) |
| Giada De Laurentiis | Celebrity Chef / Food Network Star |
| Taylor Hanson | Musician (Hanson – "MMMBop") |
| Ezra Frech | Paralympic Track & Field Gold Medalist |
| Tyler Cameron | The Bachelorette Alum / Model |
| Tatyana Ali | Actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) |
| Jenna Dewan | Actress / Dancer (Step Up, The Rookie) |
Officially Confirmed by ABC (Only 4 So Far)
- Guillermo Rodriguez (Jimmy Kimmel’s sidekick / Security Guard)
- Jackson Olson (Social Media Personality)
- Ciara Miller (Summer House Star)
- Maura Higgins (Love Island UK Star / Presenter)
What Happens Next? (The Timeline)
- Right Now: Fans are analyzing Instagram follows, Reddit threads, and paparazzi pics.
- September 2: Official Cast Announcement on Good Morning America .
- Mid-September (Expected): Season 35 Premiere on ABC / Disney+.
Why This Season Looks "Wild"
- Genre Mixing: Olympians (Ezra Frech) + Chefs (Giada) + Boy Banders (Taylor Hanson) + TikTokers (Connor Wood) + Reality Royalty (The Naders, The Leavitts, Bachelor Nation).
- The "Hulu Pipeline": ABC/Disney is clearly mining their streaming sibling (Hulu) for cross-promotional casting gold.
- Legacy Connections: We have a Season 33 sibling (Sarah Jane), a Season 33 spouse (Conner), and a Season 34 bestie (Connor/Dylan).
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are these 100% confirmed? | No. They are "spoilers" from a reliable Reddit insider. The only confirmed names are Guillermo, Jackson, Ciara, and Maura. Treat the rest as very strong rumors. |
| Who is the "Fibula" guy and why is he famous? | Connor Wood. He went viral on TikTok during lockdown for relatable, chaotic comedy. He worked at Bumble, got laid off, leaned into content creation, and now has a massive following + a podcast. |
| Why is Sarah Jane Nader a "surprise" pick? | Usually, siblings of former contestants don’t get cast so quickly (Brooks was just last season!). Plus, she isn’t a traditional "celebrity"—she’s a reality star from a newer Hulu show. |
| Is Conner Leavitt a dancer? | We don’t know his skill level yet! But his wife Whitney held her own last season. The "supportive husband in the audience" arc usually writes itself into a contestant spot. |
| When does the show actually start? | Historically, DWTS premieres mid-to-late September. The cast reveal on Sept 2 (GMA) is the official starting gun. |
Summary
Season 35 is shaping up to be a "Connected Universe" season. Instead of just random famous people, ABC is casting a web of friends, siblings, and spouses from recent reality hits (The Bachelor, Love Island, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Love Thy Nader) and viral internet stars.
The only thing left to do? Wait for September 2nd to see if the Reddit detectives got it right.
Stay Tuned: Follow Closer Weekly for the official GMA announcement and full cast breakdown!