Dancing with the Stars pro Sharna Burgess has addressed criticism she and boyfriend Brian Austin Green have an "unfair advantage" in the Dancing with the Stars Season 30 competition.
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Sharna, 36, and the 48-year-old actor and TV personality sparked fireworks on the dance floor when they performed on Dancing with the Stars' Monday-night premiere, and they even ended their routine with a sweet kiss onstage.
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"There's a lot of people saying that we have this unfair advantage because we can just practice all the time and that we already have chemistry going onto the dance floor," Sharna said in a series of videos posted to her Instagram Story on Wednesday.
"And everyone is so valid to their opinions, obviously -- that's one of the beautiful things about this show: you guys get to decide how you feel about a couple and root for who you want to root for."
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"But about those two things," the pro partner continued, "Brian and I work really hard to keep the studio and at home separate."
Sharna and Brian were apparently afraid to get overwhelmed and fight during and after rehearsals, which would naturally take a toll on their good relationship, which began in late 2020.
"This is a really big thing for us to do, and neither of us want to stress out our relationship," Sharna explained.
Sharna noted not getting caught up in the competition and "keeping balance" is the best way for the couple to continue a healthy and happy relationship.
"And so that's a learning curve for me too, right? Because I'm an obsessor when it comes to the season. I am just completely all in," Sharna acknowledged.
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It was apparently a difficult choice for Sharna and Austin to even agree to compete on Dancing with the Stars this season, considering the possible risks and consequences.
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"When [we] discussed doing the show together before we said 'yes,' that was one of our big conversations, how do we keep the balance?" the blonde beauty shared.
"Honestly, we were on the edge for a long time. We didn't think we would do this because we thought, 'We don't really need that kind of a spotlight on us.'"
But the pair later realized sharing an experience together in the ballroom could end up being a "really cool, beautiful thing" they'll be able to "look back at for the rest of [their] lives."
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Brian and the pro dancer began dating after Brian announced his split from estranged wife and actress Megan Fox in May 2020, but Brian and Sharna attempted to keep their relationship a secret for a little while.
Once the romance became serious, Sharna reportedly met the former Beverly Hills, 90210 star's three sons -- Noah, 8, Bodhi, 7, and Journey, 5 -- whom he shares with Megan as well as his eldest son, Kassius, 18, whom he welcomed with his ex Vanessa Marcil in 2002.
On the premiere of Dancing with the Stars, Sharna and Brian only tied four ninth place on the judges' leaderboard with three other couples, all of whom had received a total score of 24 points from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.
After taking the stage with their foxtrot routine, Brian and Sharna told Us Weekly that there was never a discussion for Brian to possibly partner with a different female pro.
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"They offered it to [Brian] on the terms we'd be partners. We always were going to be partnered together," Sharna said.
Sharna also gushed how she and Brian have yet to suffer through "a bad moment" while working together.
"Our communication is so great in our relationship, so anything that arises, we discuss it," Sharna explained.
"But it is new, so it's just that staying open to seeing what [Brian] is showing me and what we need as a couple in life, and what we need as a partnership on the dance floor and trying to be present to that."
Dancing with the Stars 30 marks Sharna's fourteenth season on the show as a pro partner. She won the mirrorball trophy one time with celebrity partner Bobby Bones back on Season 27 in 2018.