If you tuned into Dancing With the Stars season 33, you might have noticed a fresh face added to the lineup of pros we know and love: Ezra Sosa.
Despite getting eliminated first alongside his celebrity dance partner, the oh-so controversial Anna Delvey, Ezra had quite the journey on Dancing With the Stars season 33, finally achieving his dream of becoming a DWTS pro. Prior to this massive promotion, Ezra was a part of the Dancing With the Stars troupe and live tour for several years — simultaneously stepping in as a pro should someone get sick or injured — so finally becoming a pro on the show was quite an impressive feat for the Utah native. You go, Ezra!
Not only has he taken massive strides in his professional life, but Dancing With the Stars has also allowed Ezra to take massive strides in his personal life, coming to terms with his sexuality as a part of the Emmy Award-winning series.
Sitting down with Bachelor, Bachelorette, and Dancing With the Stars alum Gabby Windey — who is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community — for an episode of her podcast, Long Winded, Ezra opened up about how Dancing With the Stars has completely transformed his self-identity.
Here’s what DWTS pro had to say:
Kicking off the conversation, the 24-year-old shared that he grew up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (AKA the LDS Church). According to Elder M. Russell Ballard — the former Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church — “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that ‘the experience of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is.'” Because of this, Ezra felt trapped as a gay man, knowing that he “had to get out” of the LDS Church in order to embrace who he truly is.
“I knew if I would have lived there any longer, I wouldn’t be out, and I’d probably be married and have kids,” Ezra explained, which is a major reason why he moved away to pursue dance full-time.
Little did he know that pursuing dance full-time would change his life entirely. “The last tour I did with Dancing With The Stars, I was still hesitant about like my self identity,” Ezra continued, prior to sharing a specific moment from the Dancing With the Stars live tour that changed his life once and for all.
“There was this dating game, and they always had me being [on] this freaking dating game… They’re obviously not going to pick the gay guy. Like, come on,” he prefaced, prior to delving into the details:
“I remember one show, there was this one question that’s a little bit more forward, and they asked it… I was like, ‘I’m not the one for you. Like, I’m gay,’ and that was the first time I think I said that in that environment — in the world of Dancing With The Stars — and the audience like erupted with laughter. I just remember sitting there, and I was like, ‘Oh wait, this is my superpower. This is what’s gonna make me different.'”
And a superpower it was indeed, easily becoming one of the most popular DWTS pros. Don’t just take it from us, though — take it from the fans in the comment section:
“Ezra deserves all the love! He’s an icon.”
“I love Ezra even more now 😭❤️ fellow ex-Mormon!!”
“Ezra is my favorite. I’ve been watching Dancing With the Stars for so long ,and I appreciate Ezra being so himself and authentic in his life experience 🫶🏻”
After all, social media sensations — such as Trisha Paytas, specifically — are practicallybegging to be his partner on Dancing With the Stars season 34!
Nevertheless, to see Ezra in action — before Dancing With the Stars returns for its 34th season, of course — snag some tickets to DWTS live tour. The full list of tour dates is as follows:
- January 7 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater
- January 9 – Baltimore, MD – Lyric Baltimore
- January 10 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
- January 11 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
- January 12 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center (2 shows)
- January 14 – Portland, ME – Merrill Auditorium at City Hall
- January 15 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena
- January 16 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
- January 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
- January 19 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre (2 shows)
- January 21 – Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
- January 22 – Schenectady, NY – Proctors
- January 23 – University Park, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
- January 24 – National Harbor, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
- January 25 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center (2 shows)
- January 26 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
- January 28 – New Brunswick, NJ – State Theatre New Jersey
- January 29 – Brookville, NY – Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
- January 30 – White Plains, NY – The Westchester County Center
- January 31 – Kitchener, ON – Centre in the Square
- February 1 – Rama, ON – Casino Rama Resort – Entertainment Centre
- February 2 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort & Casino
- February 4 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
- February 5 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre
- February 6 – Detroit, MI – FOX Theatre
- February 7 – Columbus, OH – Mershon Auditorium
- February 8 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre
- February 11 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
- February 12 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre
- February 13 – Ames, IA – Stephens Auditorium
- February 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Northrop
- February 15 – Madison, WI – The Orpheum Theater
- February 16 – Grand Rapids, MI– DeVos Performance Hall
- February 18 – St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre
- February 19 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
- February 20 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry House
- February 21 – Atlanta, GA – The Fox Theatre
- February 22 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
- February 23 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
- February 25 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts
- February 26 – Spartanburg, SC – Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
- February 27 – Jacksonville, FL – Moran Theater
- February 28 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
- March 1 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
- March 2 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
- March 4 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
- March 5 – Huntsville, AL – Von Braun Center – Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
- March 6 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre
- March 7 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Theatre
- March 8 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Theatre
- March 9 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
- March 11 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre
- March 12 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall
- March 13 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre
- March 14 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Casino & Resort
- March 15 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
- March 16 – Denver, CO – Buell Theatre
- March 18 – Boise, ID – Morrison Center For The Performing Arts
- March 19 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
- March 20 – Spokane, WA – First Interstate Center for the Arts
- March 21 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
- March 22 – Redding, CA – Redding Civic Auditorium
- March 23 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
- March 25 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
- March 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
- March 29 – Las Vegas, NV – The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
- March 30 – Temecula, CA – Pechanga Resort Casino (2 shows)
- April 2 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
- April 3 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
- April 4 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
- April 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre