"She almost died"- Dancing With the Stars' Joe Amabile on almost injuring partner Jenna Johnson

Joe Amabile, a former Bachelorette contestant and Dancing With the Stars season 27 participant, recently reflected on a near-accident involving his professional dance partner, Jenna Johnson.

Speaking with Johnson on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast on December 17, 2024, Amabile described the harrowing moment during their Halloween-themed Argentine tango performance, stating:

"I almost killed you. I swear on my life, she almost died. It was insane."

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Joe Amabile recalls near-accident with Jenna Johnson on Dancing With the Stars

The Halloween episode mishap

The incident occurred during a Halloween-themed episode of Dancing With the Stars in 2018. Amabile and Johnson were performing a Frankenstein-inspired Argentine tango as part of the competition. Reflecting on the event, Amabile recalled the pivotal moment when a lifting move went wrong.

Johnson explained during the podcast episode:

"He put his arm in the wrong spot...I was going to do a backflip. I don't know how I did that."

According to Amabile, the error happened during the final move of the dance. While attempting a cartwheel spin, he placed his hands incorrectly, which caused Johnson’s body to go rigid midway through the move.

"It was the only position I couldn’t lift her in. It was like, 'Just don’t do this.' And it was what I did," Amabile said.

To avoid a potentially dangerous fall, Johnson had to adjust mid-air, landing awkwardly but safely.

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Amabile and Johnson’s partnership

Joe Amabile, often referred to as "Grocery Store Joe" due to his occupation before reality television, was paired with Jenna Johnson during season 27 of Dancing With the Stars. Despite being relatively inexperienced in ballroom dancing, Amabile’s charm and commitment helped the duo advance to the semifinals before their elimination.

Johnson, a seasoned professional dancer, reflected on their time as partners with humor and grace.

"Honestly, Joe, that was your best dance, and it was the ending move," she told him during the podcast.

Amabile, in turn, credited Johnson for her patience and skill in guiding him through the competition.

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Reflections on the incident

The near-mishap became a source of both humor and reflection for the pair. Amabile said during the podcast:

"Jenna would walk off stage when we would get done dancing, and she’d look at me and she’d go, 'What happened?' And I would look at her and say, 'I don’t know!'"

Jenna Johnson also shared her perspective on her ideal dance partner, noting the advantages of working with athletes.

"I've always wanted to partner with [a football player] them because, again, they're athletic, they are totally down to be coached and yelled at, and they’re usually pretty big and strong," she said.

However, she also reiterated her appreciation for Amabile, despite the challenges they faced during their partnership on their time on Dancing With the Stars.

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Stream past seasons of Dancing With the Stars on Disney+ and Hulu to see unforgettable routines and behind-the-scenes moments.