THIS IS NIGHTLINE TONIGHT. >> MEGAN THEE STALLION.
>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. >> DRESSING THE PART BACK IN
COURT FOR HER DEFAMATION TRIAL. >> MEGAN IS ABSOLUTELY SENDING
THE MESSAGE THROUGH HER FASHION. SHE IS TELLING EVERYONE THAT
SHE MEANS BUSINESS. >> THE BODY RAPPER.
>> ODY ODY ODY ODY ODY ODY ODY. >> WHO WAS SHOT BY SINGER TORY
LANEZ, NOW SUING AN INFLUENCER FOR CYBERBULLYING, HARASSMENT
AND PROMOTING A DEEPFAKE PORN VIDEO OF THE STAR.
>> THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE FREEDOM TO BULLY.
>> WHY THE VERDICT COULD HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS FOR OTHER
CELEBRITIES. PLUS, DANCING WITH THE STARS A NEW CHAMPION IS
CROWNED. >> ROBERT AND WHITNEY.
>> ROBERT IRWIN CAPPING A RECORD BREAKING SEASON OF DIPS,
SPINS AND LIFTS, TAKING THE COVETED MIRRORBALL TROPHY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CHANGING MY
LIFE. >> MEET THE MASTERMIND WHO CAST
THE BUZZIEST COMPETITION YET. >> IT'S ELECTRIC. IT'S INSANE.
IT'S LIKE LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE. >> WHAT SECRETS DOES SHE REVEAL
ABOUT NEXT SEASON. >> FROM ABC
>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, MEGAN THEE STALLION.
ALL BUSINESS IN COURT FOR HER CIVIL CASE AGAINST AN
INFLUENCER THAT THE RAPPER SAYS LAUNCHED A SMEAR CAMPAIGN
AGAINST HER. HOW THE OUTCOME MAY IMPACT ONLINE SPEECH.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.
>> MEGAN THEE STALLION IS SERVING LOOKS, BUT INSTEAD OF
THE RED CARPET, SHE'S WALKING BACK INTO COURT. THE RAPPER,
USING TAILORED SUITS AND EYE CATCHING POWER DRESSES TO SEND
A MESSAGE AS SHE WAGES THE LATEST LEGAL BATTLE IN
CONNECTION WITH THE TORY LANEZ SHOOTING SAGA.
>> GOT THAT ON TODAY. >> MEGAN IS ABSOLUTELY SENDING
THE MESSAGE THROUGH HER FASHION. SHE IS TELLING EVERYONE THAT
SHE MEANS BUSINESS, AND SHE IS TAKING THIS WITH ALL THE
SERIOUSNESS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN WITH.
>> BODY ODY ODY ODY ODY ODY ODY ODY ODY.
>> AS THE ARTIST BEHIND MASSIVE HITS LIKE BODY AND SAVAGE,
WHICH WON HER A GRAMMY AWARD. >> CLASSY. BOUGIE.
>> RATCHET MEGAN, LIKE MOST CELEBRITIES, IS NO STRANGER TO
ONLINE CRITICISM. >> MEG WO.
>> BUT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 2020 INCIDENT, WHEN TORY LANEZ
SHOT HER IN THE FOOT, AS SEEN IN THIS TMZ VIDEO.
>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY,
MEGAN. >> AND THE EXPLOSIVE, HEADLINE
GRABBING CRIMINAL TRIAL THAT FOLLOWED? MEGAN SAYS THAT
CRITICISM HAS TURNED INTO A FULL SCALE ATTACK.
>> IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE FREEDOM TO BULLY.
>> NOW, MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER LANE'S WAS CONVICTED, THE
ARTIST IS TAKING ON A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER ACCUSING HER
OF WAGING A WAR OF HARASSMENT AND BULLYING. IT'S A CASE MANY
ARE WATCHING SINCE THE OUTCOME COULD DETERMINE WHO QUALIFIES
AS MEDIA AND WHAT KIND OF SPEECH IS PROTECTED ONLINE.
>> THIS CASE HAS POTENTIAL TO BE VERY SIGNIFICANT. I THINK
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE AMPLIFIED PLATFORMS WHO
OFTEN GET TARGETED BY CERTAIN BLOGGERS, AND IT DOES AFFECT
NOT ONLY THEIR, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO THEIR
BOTTOM LINES. >> IN THE LAWSUIT, MEGAN SAYS
MILAGRO COOPER, KNOWN ONLINE AS MILAGRO GRAMS, SPENT YEARS
SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION AND PROMOTING A DEEPFAKE
PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEO OF THE RAPPER. AND SHE SAYS COOPER WAS
GETTING PAID TO DO IT ON LANE'S BEHALF.
>> MEGAN THEE STALLION'S ATTORNEYS ARE CLAIMING THAT
MILAGRO COOPER BASICALLY COORDINATED WITH BOTH TORY
LANEZ AND HIS FATHER OF GETTING INFORMATION THAT WAS COMPLETELY
INCORRECT AND COMPLETELY DEFAMATORY TO TRY TO, I GUESS,
INFLUENCE THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION. AND THEY'RE SAYING
THAT THIS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED MEGAN AND THAT IT CAUSED HER TO
HAVE EXTREME EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND OTHER HARMS.
>> MEGAN IS NOW SUING COOPER IN FEDERAL COURT FOR DEFAMATION,
ACCUSING COOPER OF CYBERSTALKING, INTENTIONALLY
INFLICTING EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, PROMOTION OF THAT DEEPFAKE
VIDEO, AND INVASION OF PRIVACY. THE RAP STAR TESTIFIED THAT
COOPER ATTACKED MEGAN'S CHARACTER, CASTING HER AS A
LIAR AND AS MENTALLY UNSTABLE. >> MEGAN ALSO FEELS THAT PART
OF THIS FEELS LIKE REVENGE TO, IN A LOT OF WAYS, THAT THIS
BLOGGER PURPOSELY TARGETED HER FOR SPEAKING OUT AND TELLING
WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED BETWEEN HER AND TORY LANEZ. SHE'S
TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING DEPRESSED AND NOT EVEN WANTING
TO BE ALIVE ANYMORE. >> COOPER MAINTAINS HER POSTS
ARE COVERED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND WHILE SHE
ADMITTED UNDER OATH THAT LANE'S FATHER DID PAY HER MONEY, SHE
SAYS IT WAS FOR UNRELATED PERSONAL REASONS AND
PROMOTIONAL WORK. LANE'S FATHER SON STAR PETERSON, WAS OFTEN
SEEN OUTSIDE COURT DURING HIS SON'S TRIAL.
>> I JUST STOOD HERE IN THIS LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND
WITNESSED THE WORST MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE THAT THIS WORLD HAS
EVER SEEN. >> PETERSON STATED IN A
DEPOSITION THAT HE PAID FOR SOME OF COOPER'S TRAVEL
EXPENSES. >> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR THIS
PERSON IS NOT A A JOURNALIST. JOURNALISTS REALLY ARE TELLING
STORIES IN ITS TOTALITY. WE ACTUALLY ABIDE BY A CODE OF
ETHICS AND STANDARDS. >> LANE'S IS A CANADIAN RAPPER
BORN DAYSTAR PETERSON, KNOWN FOR HITS LIKE LOVE.
>> EVERYONE FALLS IN LOVE SOMETIMES.
>> AND SAY IT. THE ORDEAL BEGAN IN JULY 2020 WHEN MEGAN WAS
PARTYING AT KYLIE JENNER'S HOUSE WITH FRIENDS, SHOWN HERE
IN AN INSTAGRAM LIVE VIDEO. ALSO AT THE PARTY, HER FRIEND
TORY LANEZ, MEGAN TORY AND ANOTHER FRIEND KELSEY HARRIS
ALL REPORTED THAT THEY LEFT THE PARTY TOGETHER. LANE'S LATER
TEXTED MEGAN THAT HE'D GOTTEN TOO DRUNK WHILE THEY WERE IN
THE CAR. AN ARGUMENT BROKE OUT. >> SO I GET OUT THE CAR AND
IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING HAPPENS SO FAST.
>> HERE'S WHAT MEGAN TOLD CBS'S GAYLE KING HAPPENED NEXT.
>> ALL I HEAR IS THIS MAN SCREAMING AS HE SAID, DANCE AND
HE STARTS SHOOTING AND I'M JUST LIKE, OH MY GOD, IF I TAKE THE
WRONG STEP, I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN SHOOT SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE
SUPER IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW IF HE COULD SHOOT ME AND KILL
ME. LIKE, WERE YOU AFRAID FOR YOUR LIFE AT THAT TIME? I WAS
REALLY SCARED BECAUSE I HAD NEVER BEEN SHOT AT BEFORE.
>> FIVE SHOTS RANG OUT. THIS TMZ VIDEO SHOWS THE AFTERMATH.
MEGAN STRUGGLED TO WALK, LEAVING A TRAIL OF BLOODY
FOOTPRINTS. WHEN POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, MEGAN DID NOT
TELL THEM THAT SHE'D BEEN SHOT, SAYING INSTEAD THAT SHE STEPPED
ON GLASS. >> SHE WAS SCARED. IT WAS THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN SHOT. IT WAS
FRIENDS OF HERS THAT WERE INVOLVED. SHE DIDN'T TELL THE
FULL STORY IMMEDIATELY, BUT SHE DID. SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
>> TORY LANE'S BECOMES IDENTIFIED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS
THE ALLEGED SHOOTER, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, FANS OF
TORY LANE'S AND SOME OTHER FOLKS WHO I DON'T THINK WHO
EVEN KNEW WHO TORY LANE'S WERE, BUT WERE CERTAINLY IN THE
BUSINESS OF VILIFYING MEGAN THEE STALLION, BEGAN TO PUSH
BACK ON THAT NARRATIVE. >> LANES WAS CHARGED IN THE
INCIDENT IN OCTOBER 2020. HE STOOD TRIAL IN DECEMBER OF 2022.
>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY, MEGAN? GREAT, GREAT.
>> AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATION AND RUMORS, THE TRIAL LASTED
ONLY 11 DAYS. WHEN MEGAN TOOK THE STAND, HER VOICE CRACKED AS
SHE TESTIFIED, I WISH SHE WOULD HAVE JUST SHOT AND KILLED ME IF
I KNEW I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS TORTURE. THIS
HAS MESSED UP MY WHOLE LIFE. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE ON THIS
EARTH NO MORE. THE JURY FOUND LANE'S GUILTY ON THREE FELONY
COUNTS, INCLUDING ASSAULT, CARRYING A LOADED, UNREGISTERED
FIREARM IN A VEHICLE, AND DISCHARGING A FIREARM WITH
GROSS NEGLIGENCE. HE'S NOW SERVING A TEN YEAR PRISON
SENTENCE. >> I THINK WHEN TORY WAS
CONVICTED AND THEN LATER SENTENCED, IT REALLY FELT
VALIDATING FOR FOR MEGAN, YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE SHE WAS
BEING LISTENED TO. AND A COURT OF LAW DEFINITELY BELIEVED HER.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR FINAL MESSAGE TO JURORS TODAY.
>> SHE HOPES THIS JURY BELIEVES HER, TOO. IN THIS DEFAMATION
TRIAL, MANY OF THE RUMORS AND MISINFORMATION SPREAD OVER THE
YEARS, EVEN AFTER LANE'S CONVICTION, HAVE BEEN REHASHED.
MEGAN'S TEAM ARGUING THAT COOPER POSTED DEBUNKED
STATEMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING THAT MEGAN WAS NOT
SHOT AT ALL. THEY SHOWED THE JURY MEGAN'S MEDICAL X RAYS.
COOPER TESTIFIED THAT SHE COULDN'T SAY THAT MEGAN LIED,
BUT THAT SHE DID NOT BELIEVE MEGAN WAS SHOT.
>> COOPER, THROUGH HER OWN DEFENSE AND ON THE STAND, IS
SAYING THAT SHE'S NOT DEFAMING MEGAN, THAT INSTEAD SHE'S
GIVING HER OPINION BASED ON THE FACTS THAT SHE'S BEEN GIVEN,
THAT SHE'S A COMMENTATOR, AN ENTERTAINER, AND THIS KIND OF
MIXED BLEND OF WHAT SHE CALLS NEW MEDIA OF AN INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTER, BUT NOT REALLY A REPORTER, THAT THIS ISN'T
DEFAMATORY, BUT INSTEAD THE NEW AGE OF REPORTING INFORMATION.
>> COOPER'S DEFENSE CALLED THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS OVERREACH AND
SAID THAT HER STATEMENTS ARE TRUE. HER OPINION, OR CLEARLY
HYPERBOLE, AND NOT PART OF A COORDINATED HARASSMENT CAMPAIGN.
ON THE WITNESS STAND. COOPER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED SHE HAS
SPOKEN WITH TORY LANE'S BECAUSE SHE HAD HOPED TO HAVE HIM ON
HER SHOW, AND SHE DID TAKE MONEY FROM HIS DAD, BUT AGAIN
SAYS IT WAS NOT RELATED TO HER POSTS ABOUT MEGAN.
>> SHE EVEN TESTIFIED THAT TORY LANE'S FATHER WOULD PAY FOR HER
TO FLY OUT TO SEE HIM. THAT'S WHERE MEGAN IS SAYING THAT
THERE'S A COORDINATED SCHEME THAT ONE PARTY IS FEEDING THE
OTHER PARTY TO PUT OUT TO THE
PUBLIC. >> LANE'S IS NOT NAMED AS A
DEFENDANT IN THE LAWSUIT, BUT HE WAS ASKED TO GIVE A
DEPOSITION BEFORE THE TRIAL. HIS ATTORNEYS HAVE NOT RETURNED.
ABC NEWS REQUEST FOR COMMENT ON THIS CASE. AS THE TRIAL WINDS
DOWN AND THE JURY GETS READY TO DELIBERATE, THE PUBLIC NOW
WAITS TO FIND OUT HOW THE VERDICT COULD HAVE A RIPPLE
EFFECT ACROSS ALL SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE PLATFORMS.
>> THIS PROBABLY ISN'T A CASE ABOUT A CELEBRITY AND AN
INFLUENCER. AS WE MOVE FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO THE AGE OF
SOCIAL MEDIA, AND EVERYONE WITH A MICROPHONE AND A GOOD CAMERA
COULD BE AN INFLUENCER IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, THE
QUESTION BECOMES, WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON?
WHERE IS THE LINE? WHAT'S OPINION, WHAT'S FACT? AND HOW
CAN THAT BE PRESENTED TO AN AUDIENCE? BECAUSE AT THE END OF
THE DAY, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING AN OPINION AND
DEFAMING SOMEONE. >> AND NOW A LOOK AHEAD AT
TOMORROW'S SHOW EXPLORING THE WORLD OF ZOOTOPIA TWO WITH STAR
JASON BATEMAN, WHAT HE THINKS HE HAS IN COMMON WITH HIS
CHARACTER. >> LIKES TO LEAN.
>> BACK A LITTLE BIT, LET THE OTHER PEOPLE DO THE TALKING,
AND THEN THROW A BOMB EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
>> AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE TAKE YOU BEHIND THE CURTAIN FOR
THE FINALE OF DANCING WITH THE STARS,
NOW. >> WELCOME BACK DANCING WITH
THE STARS. JUST HOURS AGO, WRAPPING UP ITS HOTTEST SEASON
EVER AFTER 11 WEEKS OF RECORD BREAKING VIEWS AND VOTES, THE
WAIT FOR A NEW CHAMPION IS OVER. WHAT WAS THE WINNING TOUCH?
HERE'S NIGHTLINE'S ARJUN SINGH. >> ROBERT AND WHITNEY.
>> ROBERT IRWIN TAKES HOME THE COVETED MIRRORBALL TROPHY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CHANGING MY LIFE.
>> AFTER MORE THAN THREE MONTHS OF NONSTOP DANCING AND DRAMA,
SEASON 34 OF DANCING WITH THE STARS HAS COME TO A CLOSE.
ROBERT, CONTINUING THE FAMILY LEGACY AND CLOSING OUT THE
SEASON WITH A SHOWSTOPPING FREESTYLE DANCE. SOCIAL MEDIA
STAR ALEX EARL COMING IN SECOND PLACE IN ONE OF THE TIGHTEST
GAPS EVER SEEN BETWEEN FINALISTS. THE FINAL FIVE,
ROUNDED OUT BY OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JORDAN CHILES.
>> EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER AT THE RIGHT TIME AND I JUST FEEL
SO EXCITED AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY. >> ELAINE HENDRIX, BEST KNOWN
FOR HER ROLE AS THE SELF-CENTERED STEPMOM TO BE IN
THE PARENT TRAP. >> I ADORE YOUR FATHER. HE'S
EXACTLY THE KIND OF MAN I ALWAYS PLANNED ON MARRYING.
>> ALONG WITH REALITY TV STAR DYLAN EFRON.
>> IT'S THE HARDEST THING I'VE DONE.
>> SEASON 34 STARTED OFF WITH 14 CELEBRITIES.
>> THE NEW CAST. >> OF SEASON 34 OF DANCING WITH
THE STARS. >> FROM ACTORS, SINGERS AND
ATHLETES TO REALITY AND SOCIAL MEDIA STARS.
>> THERE'S SOME THAT NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS. AND THEN IT'S
JUST LIKE MAKING, AS I SAY, LIKE THE BEST DINNER PARTY
WHERE IT'S LIKE 14 PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD NEVER EXPECT TO SEE
TOGETHER. >> THE SHOW REACHING NEW
HEIGHTS WITH 6 MILLION VIEWERS TUNING IN TO WATCH EVERY
TUESDAY. >> THE FACT THAT THERE'S TENS
OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT AND THAT
WANT THAT IN THEIR LIVING ROOM. >> MORE THAN 50 MILLION VOTES
CAST EACH WEEK, BREAKING RECORD NUMBERS, WITH THE FAN BASE ALSO
GROWING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. >> IT'S ELECTRIC. IT'S INSANE.
IT'S LIKE LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS
ABOUT THIS SEASON THAT HAS MADE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN
IT THAN IN SEASONS PAST? >> I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS MADE A
GREAT SHOW. AND THEN THE BUZZ OF IT KEEPS YOU THERE.
>> DEENA KATZ IS THE BRAINS BEHIND THE OPERATION, CASTING
AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCING THE SHOW. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THIS? THIS SEASON'S CAST MAKES THEM SMELLED SO WELL TOGETHER.
>> I KNEW THIS WAS TO BE REALLY COMPETITIVE SEASON, BUT, LIKE,
SOMETIMES THAT STILL IS THE WARMTH OF OUR SHOW. IT'S TRYING
TO GET THE RIGHT MIX OF SOME THAT YOU KNOW FROM SOME PLACE,
SOME THAT YOU KNOW FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, SOMEONE YOU
LOVE AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE, AND THEN SOME THAT YOU MEET FOR.
>> PROCESS ON FULL DISPLAY IN THE SECRET LIVES OF MORMON
WIVES. >> HAVE YOU DANCED?
>> NO. >> SO I'VE NEVER TAKEN ANY
DANCING LESSONS. >> IF YOU END UP DOING THE SHOW,
YOU GET TO GO TO NEW YORK FOR A BIG CAST ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> SO YOU MEAN WHEN. >> WHEN I THOUGHT WHITNEY WAS
MAYBE DIFFERENT THAN WHITNEY WAS? SHE WAS SO SMILEY. SHE WAS
SO EAGER. THIS WAS HER DREAM. IT WAS LIKE SHE SOLD ME AND ME.
AND I THINK SHE KNEW SHE DID. >> WHITNEY LEVITT AND JENNIFER
AFFLECK GETTING THE COVETED SPOTS. BUT WHITNEY'S EXIT FROM
THE SHOW SHOCKED MANY. AFTER RECEIVING THIS SCORE.
>> 29 OUT OF 30 FOR WHITNEY AND
MARK. >> HER ELIMINATION. COMING ON
THE HEELS OF OTHER CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS THIS
SEASON, FORMER PRO MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY KNOCKING FIRST
YEAR PRO JAN ROENICK ON HIS WIFE'S PODCAST, THE PENTHOUSE
WITH PETA. >> I'M SORRY, JAN HAS
ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS BEING A PRO ON DANCING WITH THE STARS.
THERE'S ZERO FOUNDATION TECHNIQUE.
>> MAKSIM IS TRAINED IN CLASSIC BALLROOM DANCE STYLES, WHILE
JAN IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS TIME DANCING ON STAGE WITH TAYLOR
SWIFT, MIRRORING HER MOVE SEAMLESSLY TO THE BEAT IN HER
PERFORMANCE OF FORTNITE. >> I TOUCHED YOU FOR ONLY A
FORTNIGHT. >> MAKSIM APOLOGIZING JUST A
DAY LATER ON INSTAGRAM. >> I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO JAN
FOR THE WAY MY WORDS HAD, YOU KNOW, MADE YOU FEEL FOR HURTING
YOUR FEELINGS. >> BUT WEEK AFTER WEEK, THE
STARS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS ON THE DANCE FLOOR.
>> I AM TELLING YOU, THIS IS THE BEST SEASON EVER OF DANCING
WITH THE STARS. >> COMEDIAN ANDY RICHTER
QUICKLY BECOMING A FAN FAVORITE. >> FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE.
>> THAT LIKE ME NOW HAVE A NAME WHICH I'VE SAID MANY TIMES
BEFORE, MAKES ME FEEL LIKE MARIAH CAREY.
>> ANDY, REACTING TO BEING DUBBED THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS ON
JULIANNE HOUGH'S PODCAST. >> I DO NOT MIND IN THE
SLIGHTEST. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ASKED ME LIKE, DOES YOUR MIND
WITH PRINCESS, LIKE, GIVE ME THE TIARA, I'LL PUT IT ON, I
DON'T CARE. >> DYLAN EFRON STUNNED IN HIS
ARGENTINE TANGO TO AIN'T NO SUNSHINE.
>> WHEN SHE'S AWAY. >> HIS LIFT WITH DANIELLA
KARAGACH WALKING IN THE AIR, INSPIRING TIKTOKERS TO TRY IT
FOR THEMSELVES. >> DID YOU LIKE THAT?
>> THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME TEARS ALONG THE WAY,
SPECIFICALLY WHEN ROBERT DEDICATED HIS WEEK FIVE DANCE
TO HIS MOTHER, TERI. >> I MAY NOT BE WITH YOU, BUT
YOU GOT TO HOLD ON. >> YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IN MY
LIFE IS TO CONTINUE A LEGACY THAT MY MY MOM AND DAD STARTED.
MY MOM WAS THERE AT EVERY STEP OF THIS JOURNEY. AND THEN WHEN
DAD PASSED, SHE WAS THE ONE PERSON TO PICK UP ALL THE
PIECES TO CREATE A STORY THROUGH DANCE THAT WAS JUST RAW
EMOTION, TO ACT AS A THANK YOU TO THE PERSON WHO IS THIS
PILLAR OF STRENGTH IN MY LIFE. IT WAS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER
FORGET. AND THEN TO FINISH THAT PERFORMANCE, HAVING MY MOM
THERE, I MEAN, I WAS, I WAS HOPELESS. I ABSOLUTELY JUST
BROKE DOWN. I WAS JUST LIKE, THIS IS THIS IS A RAW MOMENT.
>> IT WAS PARTICULARLY SPECIAL. >> I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
>> DINA KATZ, ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WHO WILL BE JOINING THE
CAST NEXT SEASON. >> I'M SO WORRIED NOW, LIKE OF
NEXT SEASON, I'M ALREADY LIKE THE PRESSURE I HAVE ON MYSELF
TO DO THIS AGAIN. IT'S LIKE, DO I DO I DROP THE MIC AND JUST
WALK AWAY? >> BUT TONIGHT IT WAS ROBERT
IRWIN'S NIGHT. >> OUT. THANKS TO AUSTIN, BE
SURE TO TUNE IN TO GMA IN THE MORNING FOR THE RED HOT DANCING
WITH THE STARS MORNING AFTER DANCE PARTY WITH ALL FIVE SETS
OF FINALISTS, INCLUDING THE MIRRORBALL CHAMPIONS. AND WHEN
WE COME BACK, AN UPDATE FROM VARSITY BLUES STAR J
TRULY CHANGES LIVES. >> AND FINALLY, TONIGHT, JAMES
VAN DER BEEK GIVING BACK. IT'S OUR NIGHTLIFE. THE VARSITY
BLUES STAR, WHO'S BATTLING COLORECTAL CANCER, SELLING A
WHITE VERSION OF HIS SIGNATURE JERSEY FROM THE FAN FAVORITE
MOVIE. >> KILMER PULLS OFF ANOTHER ONE.
>> UNBELIEVABLE ON INSTA, POSTING I ALWAYS LOVED PUTTING
ON THE VARSITY WHITES PROCEEDS FROM VANDERBEEK'S PLANE AND
SIGNED JERSEYS GOING TOWARDS HELPING WITH TREATMENT AND
SUPPORTING FAMILIES WALKING THE SAME PATH. AND WE WISH THEM ALL
WELL. THAT'S NIGHTLINE. YOU CAN WATCH ALL OF OUR FULL EPISODES
ON DISNEY+ AND HULU. WE'LL SEE