WhenThe Bachelor’sJoey GraziadeijoinedDancing With The Starsseason 33, he went so far as to make a huge request to the producers in response to the backlash he and Kelsey Anderson had received over their relationship. Joey and Kelsey fell in love duringThe Bachelorseason 28and got engaged in the finale.Their relationship is still going strong, despite their critics' attemptsto break them up. Joey’sDWTSpartner, Jenna Johnson, came under fire forbeing really cozy with Joey in promotional photos, even though both are in committed relationships.

The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei opened up about navigating being physically close with dance partner Jenna Johnson while being in a relationship with Kelsey Anderson.

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Joey and Jenna were interviewed onThe Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcastrecently and opened up about how they’re navigating the reality of having to be physically close to each other when dancing, despite being in relationships with other people.Joey admitted that he wanted to be “comfortable” with the situationand not have to “worry about a lot of this noise,” referring to criticism he receives on social media. As a result, he asked theDWTSproducers to pair him up “with someone that was in a successful and healthy relationship.”

When he spoke with the producers to request a particular type of dance partner, he told them that he “didn’t want there to be any chance of noise on this” because he knows that rumors can spread fast on social media.TheBachelorstar didn’t want to risk his engagement with Kelsey facing even more scrutinythan it already has. He’s in a “great place” in his life right now and didn’t want baseless rumors to cause a “distraction” for him and Kelsey.

The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson smile in casual clothes with purple background.

Before joining theDWTScast,Joey also talked with Kelsey to verify she was “comfortable” with the idea of putting their relationship back on TV in a major way again afterThe Bachelor. He admitted during the podcast interview that their relationship is in “probably the best spot we’ve been.” It’s gotten even better because Kelsey has become “more vocal” about defending their relationship from criticism, especially in recent weeks as Jenna has been scrutinized.

What Joey Graziadei’s DWTS Request Means For Kelsey Anderson Relationship

Joey Prioritizes Kelsey Above Anything Else

Joey and Kelsey both know what it’s like to face intense scrutinyduring and after appearing on a reality show. Joey already had to face that because he appeared onThe Bachelorettefirst. Then he went through that cycle all over again forThe Bachelor. Now he’s on a third reality show,DWTS, and the negativity still hasn’t died down.

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By requesting aDWTSpartner who was already in a “successful and healthy relationship,“he tried to ensure that his fiancée wouldn’t have to worry about any baseless rumors. They still popped up anyway, but at least this way, they were probably more muted than they might have been if he had not made that request. Even though he’s competing on a fun reality show likeDWTS, he’s still prioritizing his relationship over anything else.

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Our Take On Joey Graziadei’s DWTS Request

Joey & Kelsey Are In A Strong & Healthy Relationship

This isn’t Joey’s first (or even second) rodeo in the world of reality television. No matter what their critics say on social media, he knows that he and Kelsey are in a strong and healthy relationship together, and he doesn’t want anything to get in the way of that. By requesting a partner like Jenna,he wanted to give Kelsey peace of mind. He seems to have largely succeeded, with the help ofThe Bachelorwinner Kelsey tearing down critics who question Jenna’s motives.

The Bachelor

Cast

The series centers on a single bachelor selecting a romantic partner from a group of contestants, with episodes featuring various challenges and eliminations.