“He’s the Perfect Traitor!”: Derek Hough Reacts to Mark Ballas’ Surprise Move to The Traitors

Mark Ballas may be headed to Scotland to compete in Season 4 of “The Traitors,” but his longtime friend and dance partner Derek Hough made sure to send him off to the high-stakes reality competition with a bit of comic relief—and some advice.

Playfully Showing Support

On Instagram, Hough posted a playful video featuring himself dramatically sliding across a wooden floor toward Ballas, who jokingly blocks him with his knee. The clip is set to Olivia Rodrigo’s hit “Traitor,” and Hough captioned it with some signature dry humor: “Slidin in to say good luck to my guy @markballas on the @thetraitors.us! I suggested on the round table he just covers his face with his hair and hides. A fortress of hair. Good advice?”

Fans of the “Dancing With the Stars” duo were delighted by the post, including Hough’s sister, fellow “DWTS” star Julianne Hough, who cheekily commented, “D to D 🤭😂”

From Ballroom to Reality Battles

Hough and Ballas aren’t just dance floor favorites—they’re also longtime collaborators and advocates for progress in the ballroom world. In 2024, the two made history on “Dancing With the Stars” when they performed an Argentine tango together during the Season 33 finale. It was the first time two men danced hand-in-hand under the Mirrorball Trophy spotlight in the show’s nearly two-decade run.

“We wanted to soft launch the idea of two men dancing together on “Dancing With the Stars,” you know what I mean?” Hough told Deadline at the time. “It became sort of like an introduction, if you will, and left the door open a little bit for some future partnerships on the show.”

The decision resonated with fans and industry insiders alike. With six Mirrorball wins to his name, Hough has long been an influential figure on the show. Ballas, a three-time champion, took a step back from regular competition in recent years but returned in 2022 to win with Charli D’Amelio.

Now, Ballas is stepping into far more deceptive territory on “The Traitors,” where strategy and sabotage rule. On June 16, Peacock officially confirmed the full Season 4 cast—and it looks like Ballas will have his work cut out for him, going head-to-head with former housewives and reality TV veterans like Dorinda Medley, Lisa Rinna, and Porsha Williams.

Season 4 of “The Traitors” is currently filming in Scotland and is expected to return later this year on Peacock.