DWTS Winner Joey Graziadei Admitted That The Show Strained His Relationship

Joey Graziadei is just one of a handful of The Bachelor leads that found love on the reality TV show. Joey gave his final rose to contestant Kelsey Anderson on Season 28 and the two have been going strong ever since.

However, like any highly publicized romance, Joey and Kelsey faced their fair share of tabloid headlines that suggested they were heading towards splitsville. There was a rumor that Joey was totally broke after the show and that Kelsey and Joey couldn't agree on the number of children they wanted.

When Joey agreed to become a contestant on Dancing With the Stars Season 33, it appeared to put a strain on his relationship. The couple had to move to Los Angeles even though Kelsey wanted to live in New York City, and she had to constantly defend herself from online trolls. As the couple prepare for a wedding, Joey has since revealed that the show did, in fact, negatively affect their relationship.

Joey Graziadei Revealed The Timing Of DWTS Added Additional Pressure On His Relationship With Kelsey Anderson

Joey Ended Up Winning DWTS Season 33 With Pro Dancer Jenna Johnson

Joey Graziadei made history when he became the first Bachelor lead to win Dancing With the Stars. The reality star came out on top, winning the coveted mirrorball trophy with his professional partner, Jenna Johnson. There by his side was his fiancé Kelsey Anderson, who was sitting in the audience and who was a major support for Joey throughout the competition.

However, while appearing as a guest on The Squeeze podcast in January, Joey revealed that being on the show was "difficult" on his relationship with Kelsey.

Right after the Bachelor, Joey decided to compete on yet another reality show. DWTS is known for being intense. Contestants are at rehearsals for several hours each day, learning complex choreography and it can be extremely stressful. It also meant that Joey wasn't spending time with Kelsey, who he had just proposed to.

"It was difficult at times," Joey told married couple, Taylor Lautner and Taylor Dome. "I think she probably was open about that with you guys, too. It was never a walk in the park. It's literally just because of timing."

To get a true understanding of being on the show while also in a committed relationship, Joey told the hosts that he had even reached out to other Bachelor alums who competed on DWTS for their advice on how they maintain healthy relationships.

He added, "I would have loved—especially in this important beginning time in our relationship—I would have loved to have been able to put so much more time into it than I physically could have."

Joey went on to add that he looked at his time on DWTS like his job as a tennis instructor.

"The way I always described it for her and tried to explain it for myself too is it felt like when I was teaching tennis as much as I possibly could. When you’re on court for 40 hours a week, and you’re on the entire time. You’re talking to people, you’re giving every single version of yourself. When you go home, the last thing you want to do is be ‘on’ again."

He continued, "It's not like I had to be 'on' in our relationship, but I have to be giving her attention. I have to be making sure I'm there fully." Joey admitted that even hearing all the negative press on their relationship took a toll on them both. Luckily, the reality star said that it actually made their relationship "stronger."

Despite having to deal with all this pressure, Joey expressed that being on DWTS was one of the "best decisions I've ever made."

"I can't think of anything that has fulfilled so much for me in such a short period of time like that," he added.

Kelsey Anderson Had To Defend Her Relationship As Joey Competed On DWTS

Internet Trolls Attacked Kelsey For Allowing Her Fiancé To Get So Close To Another Woman

The strength of Joey and Kelsey's relationship was often questioned when the former competed on Season 33 of DWTS. Kelsey was being constantly attacked by internet trolls who wondered how she could allow her fiancé to dance and get so close to another woman.

Addressing those trolls in a TikTok, Kelsey shared, "So many people are like, 'Kelsey, why is Jenna touching your man like that?' And honestly, I don't know, um, maybe because it's her job?'"

"Maybe because she's a professional dancer and she has to touch him to dance? I don't know, that's my understanding of it."

She continued, "I'm just so tired of everyone being like, 'Kelsey's so strong. I could not do that. I could not watch if I was Kelsey.' Let's do a little recap here. Do you all remember how Joey and I met?'" She also reminded her haters that Jenna was in a healthy and happy marriage with pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy.

Joey Revealed He Wanted A Partner Who Was Already In A Committed Relationship

The Bachelor Star Knew Just How Popular Showmances Were On DWTS And How Rumors Could Quickly Destroy A Relationship

Interestingly, Joey shared on The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast that he had specifically asked to be partnered with someone who was in a healthy relationship so that he wouldn't be the subject of romance rumors.

"It was something I thought about coming in. I said I wanted to be in a situation that I was comfortable [with], that I didn’t have to worry about a lot of noise."

He added, "And I was in such a great place in my life with everything that Kelsey and I have built that I didn’t want to have a distraction. So, we understand why it’s happening, but I was also coming in with, ‘Let’s do everything we possibly can to help it.'"

Unfortunately, Kelsey faced a lot of haters. However, she handled it like a champ. She was extremely supportive and cheered on Joey week after week. When Joey spoke with both Taylor's on The Squeeze he even admitted that it was Kelsey who pushed him to do the show.

"Kelsey was the pushing person ... Her being so about it and me being like, are you sure, people have said it's not great for a relationship, like all those things. I was pushing the opposite almost, being like devil's advocate to her, and she's like we'll figure it out. I think you should do it. She was kind of the selling point or the biggest reason why I was so open when I got the call," Joey shared.