Andy Cohen Retracts Criticism After Julia Stiles’ DWTS Debut

The tension between the two began when Cohen suggested during an interview with Kerry Washington that Stiles was not a gifted dancer. That remark served as motivation for the actress, who told her professional partner, Ezra Sosa, that she intended to win the show’s mirrorball trophy just to confront Cohen on his own couch. Stiles silenced critics who labeled her a "ringer" by clarifying that her role in Save the Last Dance relied heavily on a stunt double and required no formal professional training.

During Wednesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live, Cohen named himself his own "jackhole of the day" and aired footage of himself struggling to keep time at a Grateful Dead concert to prove his point. Stiles’ premiere performance, a quickstep set to Dolly Parton’s "9 to 5," earned an 18 out of 30 score and immediate praise from judge Derek Hough, who told the actress that Cohen could "eat it." The routine, which incorporated a tribute to Parton’s signature rhythmic nail-tapping, successfully shifted the narrative from skepticism to critical acclaim.