Skip To...
Dancing With the Stars season 33 finale wrapped up with Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson snagging the coveted mirror ball, but fans believe team Chandler and Brandon are more worthy DWTS winners. After a heated semifinal that saw all five contesting teams proceed to the finals, the pairs, Joey Graziadei and pro, Jenna Johnson, Danny Amendola, and pro, Witney Carson, Chandler Kinney, and pro, Brandon Armstrong, Ilona Maher, and pro, Alan Bersten, and Stephen Nedoroscik and pro, Rylee Arnold made their grand appearances on Tuesday’s finale, making their last stand for the mirrorball. Joey and Jenna wound up as the final winners having snagged the highest number of votes in addition to their grand score of 117.
While viewers agree their win was well-deserved after putting in electrifying performances throughout the season, many feel another pair was more deserving of the mirror ball. Ahead of the DWTS finale, many fans had their eyes set on Chandler and Brandon, having watched the duo render flawless performances all season, and snagging perfect scores while garnering a vast fandom. Hence, when the final results came in, announcing the two as third-place winners, all hell broke loose on the internet.
Fans Slam DWTS For Robbing Chandler and Brandon
Unable to hide their disappointment, raging DWTS viewers have taken to social media to pour out their grievances, demanding due justice for Chandler and Brandon, who they have since labeled as the “true winners” of season 33. Many accused the ABC competition show of robbing the duo of their rightful place. Even worse, they deemed it a slight to team Chandler, to have Ilona and Alan take second place over them despite their consistently higher scores throughout the season. Reacting to the final results of Dancing With the Stars season 33, one fan remarked,
“Team Chandler forever! They were the mirror ball champs in my eyes!”
Another agreed, saying,
“Chandler and Brandon are the true winners. Don’t get what people saw that didn’t make them the 1st place winners.”
A third remarked,
“Chandler not winning this is absolute INSANITY. Len would actually be disgraced.”
Another fired,
“Chandler and Brandon were robbed!”
A fifth fan pointed out that Chandler and Brandon should never have been in third place given that “they scored the best all season.” Some described the DWTS finale as “disappointing” thanks to the “flawed” results. One aggrieved fan who insisted “Chandler should have won,” challenged DWTS and ABC to release the overall voting numbers to prove the accuracy of their results. According to the fan, Chandler and Brandon had the most winnings throughout the season, coupled with “the most memorable freestyle,” making it impossible that they lost to two other contestants.
Who Deserved the Mirrorball Trophy on DWTS Season 33?
Notably, while scores do account for a huge part of one’s progress on DWTS, voting numbers, to a large extent, also determine the fate of contestants. Viewers saw that play out in the case of Olympian Ilona Maher and her pro, Alan Berston. The Olympic Rugby player did not exactly have a strong beginning at the competition show. However, fans watched her constantly improve, building her skills and self-confidence in the ballroom, ultimately winning over the hearts of viewers.
It’s unsurprising then that what they may have lacked in performance rankings, they made up for it in voting numbers, making them well-deserving of their spot. As for Chandler and Bing, they remained a formidable duo to contend with throughout the season, easily standing out as undisputed to-be winners. Sadly, only one pair can take home the coveted mirror ball, earned through the combination of judges’ scores and viewers’ hearts reflected in voting numbers. Joey and Jenna undoubtedly found that balance throughout their stint on DWTS season 33, eventually becoming the champs. It is safe to say, the best team won.
