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Ezra Sosa Promoted to Pro for Dancing With the Stars Season 33 as Artem Chigvintsev Exits
Sep
“It has been three years in the making,” Sosa said. “To say the least, I’m shocked.”
Ezra Sosa, formerly a member of the Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) troupe, has been promoted to professional dancer status for the upcoming 33rd season of the show. The promotion comes following the arrest of former pro Artem Chigvintsev on suspicion of domestic violence, leading to his exit from the show.
Sosa shared the news on Instagram, expressing his surprise and gratitude: “It has been three years in the making. To say the least, I’m shocked,” he said in a video posted to the DWTS account. “Most importantly, I’m just honored and grateful… This first season isn’t just going to be for me, it’s going to be for all of you, too.”
Chigvintsev was arrested on August 29 in Napa County, California, and booked on charges related to domestic violence under California penal code 273.5(a). If convicted, Chigvintsev could face up to four years in prison and/or a $6,000 fine. There were no plans for him to participate in the upcoming season of DWTS even before his arrest.
Cheryl Burke, who competed alongside Chigvintsev in 10 seasons of DWTS, expressed her shock at the news on her Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans podcast, saying, “My heart goes out to everyone involved… It’s just really hard for me because he’s my family, and I don’t know what to say here other than I hope everybody’s okay.”
Meanwhile, Sosa is focusing on the excitement of his new role. “It hasn’t hit me yet,” he told GLAAD, who initially broke the news. “But I think the moment I do meet my [celebrity] partner and the moment I step in the ballroom, that’s when I’ll be like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is actually happening right now!'”
Sosa also shared his enthusiasm for representing the LGBTQ+ community on the show, crediting season 30 contestant Jojo Siwa with helping him come out. He recalled how touring with Siwa challenged his previously held beliefs about masculinity and self-expression: “She was this person starting to introduce these things into my life… it took a very long time.”
The celebrity contestants for season 33 of Dancing With the Stars will be announced tomorrow, with the season premiere set for Tuesday, September 17, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. The episode will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
