Maura Higgins arrives at Dancing With The Stars rehearsals amid tensions with cast

Connor McCrory Sat, September 5, 2026 at 6:51 AM UTC

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Higgins was spotted arriving for Dancing With the Stars rehearsals on Thursday (Image: Getty)

Maura Higgins was spotted arriving for Dancing With the Stars rehearsals on Thursday as she prepares to compete in the upcoming season amid reports of tension behind the scenes.

The 35-year-old television personality is partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas, the son of Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, as she continues expanding her career in the United States.

Higgins gained a U.S. following through Love Island USA: Aftersun and later reached the finale of The Traitors U.S., finishing as runner-up.

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Her latest television appearance, however, has already generated attention before the competition has officially begun.

A source claimed some members of the cast have been frustrated by Higgins' reported preferences over her professional partner and her friendship with Dancing With the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli.

Higgins gained a U.S. following through Love Island USA (Image: Getty)

"Maura's been rubbing everyone up the wrong way, even before their first spray tans have dried. She was desperate to be partnered with Mark, who's hugely popular, and was dead against Gleb, who's now out of a job. It's as if what Maura says goes."

The source added, "She's even made sure to get close to judge Bruno Tonioli and wasted no time posing arm-in-arm with him after a night out."

"It's not gone unnoticed within the cast that she's being favoured. It's as if she's being set up to win."

Higgins and Tonioli were photographed linking arms during a night out on Tuesday.

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She and Ballas also previously crossed paths while appearing on The Traitors earlier this year.

Higgins had publicly made clear before the pairings were announced that she did not want to dance with Gleb Savchenko, citing her friendship with model Brooks Nader, who previously dated the professional dancer.

Higgins and Tonioli were photographed linking arms during a night out on Tuesday. (Image: Getty)

"I'd be happy with anyone but Gleb. That's only because I'm loyal and I'm friends with Brooks [Nader]," Higgins told E! News.

"I don't really like the way he speaks about women. I don't really want to spend all my time with someone like that. I'm like, no thank you."

Savchenko later responded to Higgins' remarks.

"Until I was asked to comment on this story, I'd genuinely never heard of this girl, Maura, so I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over the opinions of someone I've never met."

"It's odd to publicly attack someone you've never even met, but if that's how she wants to make headlines before the show starts, that's her choice."

"I'll stay focused and leave the unnecessary drama to everyone else."

Away from the ballroom, Higgins has also been named host of an upcoming Blind Date reboot.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”