Jenna Johnson Clarifies Corey Feldman Didn't Go 'Missing' Before 'DWTS'

Jenna Johnson is setting the record straight about Dancing With the Stars partner Corey Feldman‘s whereabouts before the season 34 premiere.

During the Friday, September 12, episode of Danielle Fishel‘s “Danielle With the Stars” podcast, the actress — who is competing on DWTS with pro Pasha Pashkov — mentioned Johnson’s “false start” to rehearsals due to Feldman’s schedule.

“It’s so funny because everyone was like, ‘He’s missing, you haven’t heard from him,'” Johnson, 31, said. “We were in communication the whole time. … He had prior engagements he had to do. And we both knew going into this that, like, we were going to miss some time and we had some catching up to do before the premiere.”

Johnson added that Feldman, 54, is “aware” that they’re in crunch time. “He comes in now to each of our rehearsals with this [mindset of] — not wanting to prove people wrong — but he is excited to work hard. And I love that,” she continued. “That is one of the best qualities you can ask in a new partner. Like, they need to want to be there, and he does and he’s excited. And he’s fully like, ‘I have no ballroom experience. I have no partnering experience.’ … So I love that he’s like, ‘Treat me like the biggest beginner.'”

The choreographer emphasized that it’s been “so lovely to get to know” Feldman as they’ve spent time together in the dance studio. “He is hysterical,” she said. “Like, really funny.”

Earlier this month, the DWTS cast and their pro partners were revealed on Good Morning America. Johnson later raised eyebrows on Saturday, September 6, when she told her social media followers that she hadn’t seen Feldman since the announcement on the morning show.

“I am eagerly awaiting him getting back so we can get back into the studio to dance and then to do all the content things,” she said at the time while clarifying why she and the actor hadn’t been sharing TikToks from their rehearsals like other DWTS duos.

Johnson added, “I’ve been loving all the couples posting. It’s been so fun to see. … It’s always so exciting starting this new season [with] this new family. I am obsessed with all these celebrities so far. They have just been amazing.”

Two days later, Johnson gave TikTok users their first glimpse of Feldman joining her in the studio. “Corey + Jenna have entered the tik tok chat 🤭 @Dancing with the Stars,” she captioned a video on Monday, September 8.

Fresh off her season 33 win — Johnson took home the mirrorball trophy with former Bachelor Joey Graziadei last year — the ballroom pro is looking forward to the new competition.

“I think every season feels different,” Johnson said on Friday’s podcast. “I think it’s exciting. It’s challenging to be like, ‘OK, I have to forget everything that I’ve experienced with past partners and just focus on how does my partner learn? How does he absorb information? What are cues that I need to give him? How is he gonna react live?’ … These are still things that all of us pros are having to learn [this season].”

Ahead of the season premiere, Johnson said that DWTS feels bigger and better than ever. “I’ve never been invested in my social media as much during the season as we all are currently,” she teased. “It feels like a TikTok fest, like, who’s doing the most TikToks together? But you see the traction. There are so many eyes on the cast and this season.”

When the cast makes their first appearance in the DWTS ballroom, fans will see Johnson and Feldman perform a tango to “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me” by Billy Joel.

Dancing With the Stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET and will stream the following day on Hulu.

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