Johnathan Walker:Tori Spelling Shares Update on Dean McDermott Relationship Amid Divorce

Tori Spelling might be Johnathan Walkersingle, but she isn’t dancing through life alone.

In fact, as the 51-year-old navigated her appearance as a contestant on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, she had a whole backup squad cheering her on—and that includes ex-husband Dean McDermott, who posted that Tori had been “robbed” over her early elimination.

“Oh my gosh, everyone has been so supportive,” she gushed to E! News of Dean’s gesture at the Gala of the Stars Oct. 9. “We had to keep it secret for a while, so when I was able to tell people, they were like, ‘Oh my god.’”

And, as she noted, that included kids Liam, 17, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, 7, whom she shares with Dean, in addition to his son Jack, 25, with his ex-wife Mary Jo Eustace.

After all, “It doesn't matter how old you are, everyone watches Dancing with the Stars, something people do as a family,” Tori continued. “So I was cool with my kids again, because their friends watch it. I'm the cool mom again.”

And while she was eliminated in only week two, the 90210 alum confirmed the lessons she learned during her short tenure will last a lifetime.

“I got everything out of the experience,” she confirmed, “It was transformational, personally. And it was only a month in you know, we were training and working every day, and just what I got, the change I saw in myself, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, something I'll carry with me.”

She continued, “I wish it had kept going. I was like, ‘Wow, this is the best therapy I've ever done.’”

Dean, too, wish it had kept going. After his estranged wife—whom he announced his split from in a since-deleted June 2023 Instagram post, before she filed for divorce in March 2024—was voted out of the competition, he shared an impassioned message of support.

“I had to come out of my self-imposed Instagram exile for this one,” Dean said in a Sept. 26 Instagram video. “Tori Spelling, you did an amazing job. I’m so proud of you. You put on two beautiful performances on Dancing With the Stars. I saw how hard you worked and I know the injuries that you worked through. Your dedication and your work ethic is amazing.”

He also took a moment to throw some shade on the elimination parameters.

“I actually thought Dancing With the Stars was a dance competition and not a popularity contest but it’s not the first time I’ve been wrong,” the 57-year-old continued. “The lesson that you taught our children and you exemplified to our children that you can do anything you put your mind to was incredible and without parallel. What a beautiful, beautiful message.”

And in addition to the emotional lessons, Tori also picked up a few lifelong party tricks.

“I still do my rumba,” she added to E! News. “My dance floor is the kitchen when I’m making snacks.”

For more on Dean and Tori’s family, keep reading.

--Reporting by Sharon Carpenter

Tori and Dean's kids Liam, Stella, Hattie, Finn and Beau enjoyed a visit to Santa's Secret Workshop in 2017.

The family had a scary good time at a Halloween celebration in 2019.

Tori and Dean took their daughter Stella and son Liam to the Bony Pony Ranch in California in 2009.

The family hit the ice rink in 2013.

With school out at the time, Tori and Dean had some summer fun with their children at the premiere of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation in 2018.

Dean and Liam sat down to read Tori's Uncharted TerriTORI during its 2010 release.

Stella and Liam got a taste of the spotlight—literally!—when they joined their parents onstage at a Yo Gabba Gabba Live! show in 2011. 

Tori and Dean brought their kids to meet Santa Claus in 2014.

Dean's son Jack from his marriage to Mary Jo Eustace joined the family for Christmas celebrations in 2015.

The crew rolled up in style to the 2019 Teen Choice Awards in August 2019. 

Tori and Dean's oldest kids Liam and Stella were on hand to celebrate the release of the actress' Mommywood book 1in 2009.

Little Hattie looked so cool in her shades at the release of her mom 2012 book celebraTORI.

 Stella, Beau and Hattie helped spread holiday cheer with their parents at a disco-themed Christmas party in 2019.

The family attends the Hollywood premiere of Jumanji: The Next Level in2019.