As Dancing With the Stars gears up for its season 34 premiere on Tuesday, September 16, fans are raising concerns about fan-favorite Jenna Johnson and her new partner, Corey Feldman. 

While the majority of the cast is deep into rehearsals, Johnson revealed on Instagram Story that she hasn’t seen Feldman since their appearance on Good Morning America.

“To be completely honest, I actually haven’t seen him since Good Morning America,” the 31-year-old pro dancer admitted, explaining that Feldman had “previous work engagements and personal stuff going on” following the official cast announcement on the September 3 episode of GMA.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy (@jennajohnson)

Johnson, fresh off her win with former Bachelor Joey Graziadei last season, expressed excitement about the new season but admitted she is eager to get back into the studio with Feldman.

“I’ve been loving all the couples posting. It’s been so fun to see. I’m a little anxious and eager to get back into the studio,” she said.

Feldman, 54, joked about potentially underwhelming his partner. “I feel like I may have let her down a little bit already,” he told Us Weekly. “I’m sure when she opened the door [she] was like, ‘Oh God, what do I have to deal with?’” 

Still, he expressed gratitude for having an “eloquent” and experienced partner like Johnson. 

“I’ve been dancing my whole life professionally, but [in a] totally different style of dancing… for me to take the back seat and turn it over and say, ‘It’s all you, show me. Lead me,’ I’m excited.”

Despite their optimism, fans are expressing concern online that this slow start could be a serious disadvantage for Johnson. Many viewers were skeptical of the pairing from the beginning, citing the significant age gap and questioning whether Feldman would allow Johnson to truly showcase her skills. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy (@jennajohnson)

One fan shared on social media, “Jenna never seems to get paired with someone who lets her shine. This is so unfair!” Another added, “I love Corey, but Jenna deserves a partner that matches her energy and ability.”

This perspective reflects a longstanding fan frustration – while Johnson consistently delivers powerhouse performances, many feel the show doesn’t always give her the opportunity to reach her full potential with the right partner. 

As season 34 kicks off, all eyes will be on whether Johnson and Feldman can find their rhythm in time for the competition. Dancing With the Stars premieres Tuesday, September 16, on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.

Photo Credit: @jennajohnson on Instagram.