Sonia Bruganelli pushed through the pain of a third rib fracture, sustained during rehearsals, to perform on Saturday’s episode of Dancing with the Stars. Despite the injury, she chose to go ahead with her scheduled routine, accompanied by her dance partner, Carlo Aloia, delivering a tango that sparked a mix of reviews from the judging panel.
The judges’ feedback was divided. Carolyn Smith, Alberto Matano, and Guillermo Mariotto praised her resilience and dedication, while Selvaggia Lucarelli was less supportive. In an introductory video aired before her performance, Bruganelli shared details of her accident, explaining, “I realized something was wrong during rehearsals; it’s another fracture, this time to the tenth rib. It’s not a pleasant situation, and emotionally, it hasn’t been easy.” She admitted to feeling discouraged, acknowledging, “I haven’t been as strong as I wanted. I have more ribs than episodes left to go, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”
Several judges commended her determination. Alberto Matano remarked, “I find it admirable that you’re still here on the dance floor, refusing to give up despite the criticisms.” Ivan Zazzaroni added that her performance was “the best we’ve seen so far.” Fabio Canino and Carolyn Smith also offered words of encouragement.
However, tension spiked during an exchange between Bruganelli and Selvaggia Lucarelli. Lucarelli, not holding back, commented, “You’re falling apart; it’s like someone is putting a curse on you.” Bruganelli fired back with a jab of her own, suggesting Lucarelli should monetize her critiques online, as she had done in the past with similar comments. “More than once, you’ve talked about me and charged people to watch,” Bruganelli pointed out, referencing past paid content about her. Lucarelli defended herself, responding, “Is that a crime? I’ve never had wealthy husbands or partners; I earn my own living.”
Lucarelli went on to critique Bruganelli’s dance performance, stating, “Considering your injuries, you danced, but you’re still one of the weakest competitors. You tried to be in my shoes, but you didn’t quite make it.” Bruganelli concluded the exchange, remarking, “I’m not as interested in money as you are. You spun a story and made people pay for it.”
This heated exchange highlighted both Bruganelli’s resilience and Lucarelli’s blunt style, creating a memorable moment in the show’s latest episode. Despite their differences, Bruganelli’s determination to perform against the odds earned her respect from fans and judges alike, while the tension with Lucarelli added a layer of drama that kept viewers engaged.
