A Public Apology on 'Watch What Happens Live'
TV personality Andy Cohen has publicly addressed his past comments regarding actress Julia Stiles' performance in the cult classic Save the Last Dance. During his show Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Wednesday, September 16, Cohen took full responsibility for his previous critiques.
“Tonight’s Jackhole of the Day goes to me for comments I made about Julia Stiles on the radio last year,” Cohen stated during the broadcast. “Julia, I am so sorry!”
The Source of the Tension
The issue gained traction during the recent premiere of Dancing With the Stars, where Stiles, 45, serves as a contestant. While preparing for her debut, she shared with her professional partner, Ezra Sosa, how Cohen’s past criticism had affected her confidence.
Stiles recalled Cohen questioning her dancing abilities, specifically regarding her character’s audition scene in the 2001 film. In that movie, Stiles played a ballerina navigating contemporary dance styles. Stiles revealed that the pressure to live up to her on-screen persona led her to step away from dance classes for years. “I am not a professional dancer by any means. I just played one in a movie,” she noted, adding that she felt immense pressure to be “perfect” due to the film’s lasting legacy.
Stiles' Motivation and Cohen's Response
Despite her past insecurities, Stiles expressed a desire to compete on the show as a path to personal growth and a way to address the conflict. “We’re gonna win the mirrorball and sit on Andy’s couch and be like, ‘Hey,’” she joked.
After the segment aired, Cohen used his platform to offer a gracious response. Poking fun at himself, he remarked, “I am the last person who should be giving anyone feedback on their dancing.” He followed this by showing lighthearted footage of himself dancing at a concert, before offering his full support to the actress:
“Great job, Julia Stiles, you killed it tonight. You did amazing tonight and I know you’re going to have a great run.”
Strong Debut on the Dance Floor
Stiles and Sosa made a positive impression during the second half of the Dancing With the Stars two-night premiere. The pair earned a score of 18 out of 30 for their quickstep routine to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” Judge Derek Hough praised the performance, describing it as “beautiful and graceful.”
For Stiles, the experience is about liberation. “This is my chance to free myself from all that and just enjoy the experience and learn something new,” she explained. Dancing With the Stars currently airs on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday.