"Dancing with the Stars" season 24 may have just started, but its premiere totally gave fans a load of things to talk about. The ratings of the veteran reality show skyrocketed thanks to Bonner Bolton, Sharna Burgess and Charo who grabbed most of the spotlight last Monday. Partners Bonner and Sharna took the internet by storm with the crotch groping incident at the backstage while Charo comically demanded for a higher score from one of the judges.
"Dancing with the Stars" 24 partners Bonner Bolton and Sharna Burgess are the center of "DWTS" headlines these days. While they received a good score of 22 out of 40 from their Cha-cha-cha dance last Monday, the crotch groping incident that happened between them at the backstage caught more attention than their on-stage chemistry.
Bonner and Sharna happened to be in the background scene when host Erin Andrews was interviewing another pair. The camera happened to catch Bonner grabbing Sharna from behind where his hand landed on the pro dancer's crotch. Sharna then quickly brushed away the hand of Bonner, but the scene was already captured in screenshots and made rounds all over the internet.
Fans then felt something awkward about the incident, expressing their concerns for the lady pro dancer. However, professional bull rider, Bonner Bolton, then cleared the air saying that the groping was "totally unintentional." He told Entertainment Tonight: "I was just stargazed by Nick and Peta's performance and I was looking at the TV screen. I felt her bump into me yet I wasn't really looking at what was bumping into me."
Sharna Burgess also made an effort to take to social media to defend her partner. The Aussie professional dancer wrote: "Anyone who has the ridiculous idea that it was intentional... is straight up stupid. As in lacking the intelligence to realize it was innocent." A lot fans commented to say that Bonner seems to know what his hand was holding, but the 31-year-old dancer answered: "He is a true gentleman and absolutely would never. It was an innocent accident."
However, Bonner Bolton has not denied the fact that he is attracted to his dance partner saying Sharna is "obviously beautiful." He also shared his pre-competition conversation with his pro partner confessing that he might get distracted once he look at Sharna for too long. This might have then added to the instant chemistry that the duo professed on-stage as they danced to the song "Move."
Meanwhile, veteran entertainer Charo also made a buzz on Monday night when she asked "Dancing with the Stars" 24 judge Bruno Tonioli for a higher score. Charo and partner Keo Potsepe danced salsa to the tune of "Cuban Pete" where they only scored 21 out of 40. Charo then comically warned Toniolo saying: "I've got a message for Bruno: If he wants to be alive for his next birthday, you better give me bigger numbers. Bigger! I'm watching you." She then went a step further telling the judge: "We already have a controversy. Because I am the queen of the cuchi-cuchi, OK? Don't mess with me because, Bruno, I look at you."
The premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" hailed Olympian Simon Biles and Sasha Farber as the highest scorer netting 32 out of 40. "SNL" vet Chris Kattan and partner Witney Carson, on the other hand, got the lowest score of 17 out of 40.
"Dancing with the Stars" season 24 airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
