DWTS Season 33 stars react to Ilona Maher's 'vulnerable' moment

Ilona Maher became emotional during this Dancing with the stars “Hair Metal” night on Tuesday, October 8, after she felt her dancing wasn’t up to par.

The 28-year-old Olympian and partner Alan Bersten danced a jive to “Cum On Feel the Noize” by Quiet Riot. They received a score of 26 out of 40 for the performance after Maher had a mishap and forgot some steps in the middle of the routine. When the athlete received the jury's feedback, he burst into tears.

“That was a really hard dance for me. The whole week was really hard. You do so well in the dress rehearsal and then you come out and screw it up,” Maher said through tears while speaking to him DWTS host Julianne Hough after her performance. “He knows I’m good at it, and then I just don’t.”

Bersten, 30, comforted Maher after her comments and gave her a big hug.

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Us weekly spoke exclusively to members of the DWTS The Season 33 cast followed up on Tuesday's episode — and they all shared their outpouring of support for Maher. Keep scrolling to read what they said:

Stephen Nedoroscik

Nedoroscik called his fellow Olympian “a soldier” after her performance. Nedoroscik said Maher will bring “that energy” into next week’s performance.

“It’s really sad to see people sad. …Sometimes you let your emotions run wild. And that’s what she did tonight,” he said Us. “I felt very compassionate. But she’s also a boss.”

Jenn Tran

The former Bachelorette Star shared her love and support for Maher.

“She has so many facets to her and I enjoyed getting to know her over these weeks. “It was hard to see her break down like that,” Tran gushed Us. “It just makes them more vulnerable and even more real. And this is what I've always said: I love it when people show their raw emotions instead of hiding them, and I'm so proud of them.”

Chandler Kinney

“The actress said it was really hard” and watched Maher break down in tears after her routine and was sympathetic to the emotions.

“Your heart immediately goes to where that person is,” Kinney explained Us. “You know what they've been through because you see them in rehearsals, you see the hours, you know the work, and it's day after day, hour after hour, for (a) one minute (performance). So when that one minute doesn’t go the way you want it to, it’s really disappointing.”

Kinney noted that she was “really sad” that she and Maher couldn't talk this week – especially because they were both dancing a jive.

“I think we both felt a little alone in our discouragement about the jive,” she continued. “It was nice to have her there tonight and be there for her, and she was there for me.”

Eric Roberts

The actor praised Maher's “big heart” on and off the dance floor.

“I felt terrible for her because she cares so much,” he said Us. “She is kind to all of us all day every day. I felt so sorry for her because she felt bad – and she shouldn’t.”

Britt Stewart

The professional dancer said that despite the “little bump in the road,” Maher should be “extremely proud” of her achievement.

“We all know what it feels like to be on the ballroom floor and not feel like you're doing your best, but that's okay,” Stewart said in an interview with Us. This simply means that no journey is linear. I hope she can use it as inspiration to keep going. I expect they will have a long journey ahead of them.”

Joey Graziadei

The former Bachelor The star gushed about the “special” Maher, noting that what you see in the athlete is exactly what you get. Graziadei made it clear that he would continue to “support” Maher and “give her confidence” throughout the competition.

“I could talk about Ilona for the next hour,” he explained Us. “She gives 110 percent every time. I think she’s putting a lot of pressure on herself from what people saw tonight.”