With the buzz from the Paris Olympics winding down, folks are all about Dancing with the Stars, eager to see one of their favorites—Stephen Nedoroscik, the “Clark Kent” of gymnastics—hit the dance floor with Rylee Arnold. After helping the U.S. men’s team finally break that 16-year medal drought and scoring some individual shine, he lit up reality TV. Plus, his stylish Emmys red carpet moment showed he was totally ready for his time in the spotlight!

As the first male gymnast vying for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy, Stephen is set to dazzle. When he and Rylee took the stage to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” it was nothing short of electrifying! Their high-energy routine had the crowd and judges buzzing, turning the night into an unforgettable spectacle. But with that standout performance, the speculation about Stephen and Rylee has gone into overdrive!

The buzz around Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold has really taken off! Their first dance was a dazzling blend of gymnastics and choreography, sparking all kinds of speculation and fan enthusiasm as folks started shipping them together. However, the reactions are a mixed bag, especially since Stephen is in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Tess McCracken.

One user jumped onto the Reddit thread in the r/dancingwiththestars community to share their thoughts on the shipping comments, saying, “I just really don’t understand how people see romantic chemistry between them. For one thing, he has a long term girlfriend and it’s disrespectful to her, but also to Rylee as a professional.” They noted that while Rylee and Stephen have great chemistry, it feels more like “cousins performing for their parents at sleepovers.” Still, they wrapped it up by expressing their love for the duo and excitement to see more performances!

While Stephen is happily in a relationship, Rylee has made it pretty clear where she stands, saying,

“I love it. I love being single. It’s the best. I’ve been single for a while, but I love it,” in a chat with People. Her carefree vibe definitely adds an interesting twist to all the buzz about them. After that, the Reddit thread in the r/dancingwiththestars community post stirred things up, other users jumped in, sharing their takes on the shipping madness surrounding this talented duo.

The comments section has turned into a wild mix of opinions, with fans passionately debating what their connection really is. Some folks are all about the idea that it’s just professional chemistry, while others can’t help but dream of a romance blossoming on the dance floor.

Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold steal the spotlight as the perfect duo

Stephen Nedoroscik has been open about his relationship with Tess McCracken, a fellow gymnast, and his college sweetheart since they met in 2017. As he celebrated his win at the Paris Olympics, Tess was right there, cheering him on. It doesn’t stop here; when he stepped onto the red carpet at the Emmys and felt nervous, Tess knew exactly how to help him relax. He recalled how Alana stepped in, saying, “All you have to do is walk.”

One user jumped in with a laugh, pointing out that it seems like there are a lot of new folks watching the show. They couldn’t help but say, “I can’t even take this serious,” highlighting how a simple Google search would show that Stephen is in a relationship. They also questioned what people see as “chemistry” between Rylee and Stephen, suggesting it feels more like “dancing with her brother.” It’s a pretty amusing take, showing how some fans are scratching their heads over the shipping hype!

Another user added their two cents, saying, “⁠I thought they both looked like awkward teenage camp counselors. How are people shipping them!?” And honestly, why not? After all, Stephen is just starting out in the dancing world. As Rylee put it, “We’re starting from the very bottom.” It’s going to take some time for him to adjust to those dancing shoes instead of his usual gymnastics gear! It’s all a part of the journey, and who knows where it might lead Stephen on the dancing route!

And the chatter just keeps coming! One user jumped in, saying, “⁠There are people shipping them?? They seem like cool friends but I see zero romantic chemistry lol.” Meanwhile, the judges called their performance “fun” and “entertaining,” so it’s tough to argue with those comments. It’s pretty clear that while they have a good friendship going, the romantic vibe just doesn’t seem to be there!

As the comments like, “We need to normalize not “shipping” real people” keep rolling in, what do you think about all this chatter? Are you with the folks defending the dancing duo, or do you see it differently? We want to hear your thoughts in the comments!