#Charity Lawson Addresses ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Partner Artem Chigvintsev’s Absence Due to COVID

Charity Lawson is doing her best to see her recent Dancing With the Stars complication through rose-colored glasses after partner Artem Chigvintsev announced that he is unable to compete in Tuesday’s episode due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Lawson, whose season as the lead on ABC‘s The Bachelorette aired its finale in August, took to social media Tuesday to address Chigvintsev’s health setback. Lawson will instead partner with Ezra Sosa, who has previously been part of the show’s dance troupe and makes his debut as a dance pro for the Latin Week episode.

“What a week it’s been, but @theartemc has been the best through it all,” Lawson wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I’m so grateful for @ezra.sosa and SO EXCITED to dance with him. Don’t forget to VOTE for me please, please, please.” She added, “I promise to do everyone proud!”

She also posted a message from Sosa, who reflected on his mixed emotions. “As [excited] as I am for this opportunity I know the situation is a tough one for my partner,” Sosa wrote. “Gonna be there with you every step of the way Charity and gonna do my best to make Artem proud!!!”

In announcing his diagnosis earlier Tuesday, Chigvintsev posted to social media, “The good news is, Charity is still performing. She’s dancing with an amazing guy, Ezra. They’re doing an incredible job and working really really hard.”

Lawson and Chigvintsev got off to an impressive start during last week’s season 32 season premiere, nabbing the top score of 22 points out of a possible 30. This season’s judges are Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, with Alfonso Ribeiro as host and Julianne Hough as co-host. Other contestants to impress the judging panel during last week’s premiere included Ariana Madix, Jason Mraz, Lele Pons, Adrian Peterson and Xochitl Gomez.

During a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter following her finale of The Bachelorette, Lawson explained that fiancé Dotun Olubeko would be supporting her throughout her run with the series. “With Dancing With the Stars, we’ll be out here in L.A. for some time,” she said. “So, me and Dotun will be moving in together very soon. I’m grateful that he’ll be out here supporting me, and we’ll be together.”

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