Harry Jowsey denies kissing ‘DWTS’ partner Rylee Arnold mid-dance

I can see us lost in the memory, Harry slipped away into a moment in time…

After weeks of receiving low scores and evading elimination from fan votes alone, Too Hot to Handle alum Harry Jowsey and partner Rylee Arnold were sent home on last night’s A Celebration of Taylor Swift night on Dancing With the Stars, but not before getting tongues wagging with their chemistry on the dance floor.

The duo performed a sensual rumba to “August” by Swift and received praise from the judges. With lyrics like “I can see us twisted in bedsheets, August sipped away like a bottle of wine,” there was bound to be a few tender moments in the dance, including a… kiss?

Judge Bruno Tonioli speculated on the moment when Jowsey and Arnolds heads got particularly close during the dance, as romance rumors have swirled about the pair since the season started. “It was a romantic dance, the chemistry was tangible,” Tonioli said, asking, “Were you kissing actually?” To which a giggling Jowsey replied, “Yeah, a little bit.”

But after the show, Jowsey told EW his and his partner’s lips never actually locked. “Oh no, we didn’t kiss during the dance,” Jowsey says, “I’m sick.” To which Arnold jokingly warned, “Stay away.”

Despite receiving their highest scores of the season and some gold stars for improvement from the judges, the duo was eliminated. “It’s just been such a crazy experience,” Jowsey says. “The fact that people trusted me with their votes has been really special. Obviously the scores haven’t been the best, but the fact that we have this army of people that have been voting for us and rooting for us, whether they’re doing it because they think it’s a meme or because they really love us, has been really incredible.”

One thing Jowsey says fans wouldn’t expect about competing on DWTS is that despite the glitz and glamor, the day to day can be difficult. “People wouldn’t expect how much f—ing work it is,” he says. “Every day, four hours a day, and then interviews and press, it’s a lot. But it made me learn a lot more about myself and how hard I can actually push myself before I end up getting angry and throwing a tantrum.” 

And his post-show reward for making it all the way to week 9? “I just want to go home and hug my dog and maybe eat Chick-Fil-A.”

Watch  Jowsey and Arnold’s intimate dance above. Dancing With the Stars continues Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

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