DWTS Hosts React as Alan Bersten and Emma Slater Confirm Romance with Onstage Kiss
Alan Bersten and Emma Slater sent fans into a frenzy during the final performance of the Dancing With the Stars: Live! 2025 tour when they sealed their last dance with a passionate kiss—officially confirming the romance rumors that had been swirling for months.
@callie.justine Not to be dramatic but watching this live made my entire life #dwts #dancingwiththestars #dwtslive #alanbersten #emmaslater @DWTS Live! ♬ original sound – CJ
Speaking at Disney’s Get Real event on April 22, DWTS host Alfonso Ribeiro told People that the moment didn’t come as a shock to him.
“There was no surprise,” Ribeiro said about their connection.
“Emma’s like my sister—she’s at my house several times a week. So clearly, we knew what was going on. We just didn’t know they had decided to launch it publicly.”
Ribeiro added that once the rumors were out there, going public made sense:
“When people find something they enjoy—enjoy it, live it. Why live a lie?”
Fans Celebrate Their “Hard Launch”
Video footage of their kiss quickly went viral on TikTok, with fans celebrating the long-anticipated reveal. Comments poured in like, “Now that’s a hard launch!” and “I WAS THERE AND SCREAMED MY HEAD OFF!” Many fans noted that the romance had been an “open secret” for a while.
Julianne Hough Shares Her Take
Meanwhile, co-host Julianne Hough admitted she was caught completely off guard:
“I live under a rock,” she joked. “I don’t know anything.”
Hough reflected on how showmances often form on DWTS, explaining that the intense trust and vulnerability between partners can naturally build real chemistry:
“There’s instant attraction sometimes, but the deeper connection usually comes from trust. That’s why there are so many showmances.”
She added:
“I root for it—it’s a beautiful way to meet someone.”
A Sweet New Chapter
Whether it was a surprise or not, Alan and Emma’s public moment marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter—and fans couldn’t be happier to see it unfold.