Former 'Bachelorette' star Charity Lawson reveals the unimaginable toll 'Dancing with the Stars' took on her mental health, as she faces death threats, relentless bullying, and cruel criticism.
Charity Lawson, known for her appearances on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," has lifted the lid on the harrowing experience she endured as a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars." Lawson reveals that the show's relentless pressure, coupled with a deluge of online hatred, led her to a mental health crisis.
"While ‘Dancing with the Stars’ was great, I literally went through hell and back with my mental health on that show," Lawson confessed on the "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans" podcast hosted by former dancing pro Cheryl Burke. Burke, who left the show in 2022, has also been vocal about her own concerns regarding the program's detrimental impact.
Charity Lawson's 'Dancing with the Stars' Nightmare: Death Threats and Cyberbullying
Lawson, underestimating the intensity of the "Dancing with the Stars" fandom, was caught off guard by the severity of the backlash she faced. "I came into the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ fan base, and I was like, ‘This is gonna be a piece of cake,'" she recalled, only to find it far worse than anything she had experienced on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."
The negativity was overwhelming: "I was getting death threats for like, existing," Lawson revealed. While Burke expressed shock, Lawson maintained that the hostility was not entirely unexpected, given the franchise's history. "That's why I say coming off the ‘Bachelorette,’ I was like, ‘Oh I can handle it.’"
Charity Lawson's 'Dancing with the Stars' Nightmare: Death Threats and Cyberbullying
Lawson described a relentless barrage of criticism, including accusations of underperforming, conceit, entitlement, and being "the biggest b--- on the cast." "No, it’s crazy. Like I'm telling you this and for anyone that doesn't know I'm saying this too, this is like the first time I'm openly talking about it," she admitted.
The cyberbullying became so pervasive that Lawson felt compelled to shield herself. She blocked and filtered the comments section on her social media, but the "Dancing with the Stars" official pages remained a source of torment. Lawson lamented that her fellow contestants did not face the same level of vitriol, except for Harry Jowsey, who struggled with execution throughout the season.
Charity Lawson's 'Dancing with the Stars' Nightmare: Death Threats and Cyberbullying
Lawson sought support from her dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev, who was shocked by the extent of the hatred. "I had to tell [partner] Artem [Chigvintsev], I was like, ‘This is unfortunately what we’re dealing with and what we're up against.'"
Lawson approached the producers about the situation, but she felt they had become desensitized to the problem. "It was too far gone" for them to provide meaningful assistance. This lack of support further exacerbated the damage to her well-being.
Charity Lawson's 'Dancing with the Stars' Nightmare: Death Threats and Cyberbullying
Despite these challenges, Lawson believes that her experiences mirror those of other contestants, particularly Simone Biles. "Someone messaged me and said like the same thing kind of happened to Simone [Biles] when she competed [on season 24]," she said. "And I was like, it's just honestly a trend. Which is kind of frustrating."
Lawson emphasized that her account is specific to her own experience, but she also acknowledged the intersectional challenges she faced as a Black woman in a reality TV setting. "It's like, the same things are just not protected," she said. "I just had to suppress it and, honestly, it got to the point where I'm just trying to survive … I'm just trying to make it out of the season."
Charity Lawson's 'Dancing with the Stars' Nightmare: Death Threats and Cyberbullying
Lawson believes that the way she was portrayed on the show also contributed to her image as a target. Packages during rehearsal week emphasized her focus on scoring, creating an impression that she was obsessed with perfection and felt superior to others.
"It's almost like skewing the viewers to perceive me in this way of like, ‘All she cares about is scores … She thinks she's better than everyone.' But I'm like, at the end of the day, I don't think I'm better than anyone, I'm just trying to get to the point where I feel like I should be, or honestly, where my handwork has taken me."
Charity Lawson's 'Dancing with the Stars' Nightmare: Death Threats and Cyberbullying
Despite the adversity, Lawson commends her dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev, and her fiancé, Dotun Olubeko, for providing unwavering support during the ordeal. Olubeko played a crucial role in pushing her to persevere. "Doton told me I worked this hard … It would be defeating and so frustrating looking back on it if I knew I just quit or just walked out. And I'd be really upset with myself," she said. "I'm grateful that I stuck it out."
