Kelsey Anderson Tears Up While Defending Her and Joey Graziadei’s Relationship After ‘DWTS’

Kelsey Anderson emotionally shut down rumors that her relationship with fiancé Joey Graziadei is on the rocks.

The pair’s romance was on display during the Tuesday, October 15, episode of Dancing With the Stars when Joey, 29, dedicated his performance to Kelsey, 26, who was seated in the audience. When the camera panned to Kelsey, one fan noticed that she didn’t seem to be as enthusiastic as usual. “Something was off there with Joey and Kelsey,” the user claimed in a TikTok video.

Kelsey, however, defended her romance with the former Bachelor. “I still feel like I’m very new to having a relationship in public eye and, you know, sometimes it stinks whenever people want to pick it apart, but I am thankful for all of the great things it’s brought me, like Joey, and the amazing opportunities that we’ve been able to share together,” she began in a TikTok posted on Wednesday, October 16.

Kelsey noted that “people like to assume things,” which makes it “hard” for her to not speak her truth. “I feel the need to say something back, and so, I am going to because I feel like it’s going to make me feel better,” Kelsey said in the video.

While reflecting on DWTS’ Dedication Night, Kelsey pointed out that several of the stars — including Chandler Kinney — paid tribute to “people who made a big impact in their life,” including lost loved ones.

“There was a couple moms as well,” Kelsey said. “So it was a hard night for me seeing as I have lost my mom six years ago to breast cancer.”

Kelsey shared during season 28 of The Bachelor that her mom, Denise Anderson, died in 2018. “I really resonated with a lot of these stories of having amazing moms and all of these things and it, yeah, struck a nerve for me, so I was a little emotional last night,” she continued in the TikTok. “So I guess she was right [by saying] something’s not right. Yeah, I was missing my mom a little extra.”

Kelsey stopped the video as she began to get emotional and started again with tears in her eyes. “Joey’s dance was so beautiful and it meant a lot to me and it did make me emotional because he dedicated it to me, so I wasn’t grinning ear to ear,” she said. “I also get a lot of anxiety before Joey’s dances, sometimes I get a little light-headed during them.”

While acknowledging that the camera showed her “smiling with my mouth closed,” Kelsey gushed that she was “still so proud” of Joey.

“I just, you know, was in my feelings a little bit with how special it was and also, you know, missing my mom,” she said. “I think that maybe we should just focus more on positives and not always assume the worst of things. But yeah, that’s all.”

In the caption of the upload, Kelsey encouraged fans not to slam the user who posted the original video. “Pls don’t to go [sic] hate on this person,” she wrote. “Let’s spread more love.”

Kelsey and Joey met when she vied for his affections on season 28 of The Bachelor, which aired earlier this year. During the finale, Joey popped the question to Kelsey. He began competing on season 33 of DWTS with pro Jenna Johnson, making it through to Disney Night after Tuesday’s performance.