If you’ve spent any time scrolling through #DWTS TikTok over the last year, you’ve seen the clips. The blurry fan-cam footage from the tour. The "did they just hold hands?" speculation. The sudden, chaotic influx of ship edits. For a long time, Alan Bersten and Emma Slater were the biggest "open secret" in the ballroom.
Then came April 2025.
During the final stop of the Dancing with the Stars: Live! tour in Rosemont, Illinois, the pair didn't just hint at a romance; they blew the doors off the hinges. Mid-routine, they stopped and shared a kiss that basically broke the internet (or at least the dance-obsessed corner of it). It was the "hard launch" heard 'round the world.
The Long Road to "Official"
Honestly, the timeline is kinda wild when you look back. Emma and Alan have known each other for basically a decade. They were coworkers. They were friends. They watched each other go through other public relationships—most notably Emma’s high-profile marriage to fellow pro Sasha Farber.
After Emma and Sasha finalized their divorce in early 2024, fans started noticing a shift. By October 2024, a photo of Alan and Emma holding hands started circulating on X (formerly Twitter). The rumor mill went into overdrive. But the two stayed quiet. Totally silent.
It turns out, they were living in a bit of a bubble. During a 2025 appearance on the House of Maher podcast, hosted by Alan's former partner Ilona Maher, the couple admitted they were terrified of the backlash. Emma mentioned that fellow pro Britt Stewart was the one who finally pushed her to stop "living in fear."
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The kiss on stage? That was actually Ilona Maher's idea. She told Alan right before he went out for the final night: "You gotta kiss Emma." He was nervous. He asked for permission. She said yes. The rest is ballroom history.
Why Season 34 Changed Everything
By the time Season 34 rolled around in September 2025, the dynamic had shifted from "rumored couple" to "professional power couple." But here's the thing about Dancing with the Stars: it’s a pressure cooker.
Emma was paired with comedian Andy Richter. Alan was with actress Elaine Hendrix. Suddenly, the two people sharing a bed were also competing for the same Mirrorball Trophy.
You’d think that would be a nightmare for a new relationship. Surprisingly, it was the opposite. Emma told PEOPLE that they’d frequently pop into each other’s rehearsals. If Andy was struggling with a move, Emma would pull Alan in to demo it. If Elaine needed a different perspective, Emma was there.
Debunking the "Toxic Energy" Rumors
Of course, fame always brings some drama. In November 2025, right after Emma and Andy Richter were eliminated just shy of the semi-finals, rumors started flying that there was "toxic energy" backstage.
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One TikTok video even claimed a crew member saw Alan and Emma having a "huge fight" in the hallway because Elaine Hendrix stayed in the competition while Andy went home.
The truth? It was total nonsense. Alan later joked that the video people used as "proof" of their fight was actually just them walking into the studio together the next day so Emma could help him choreograph his semi-final dance. "If you’re going to use a video, at least don’t make it one where she’s helping me!" he laughed during a podcast interview.
The Sasha Farber Factor
You can't talk about Alan and Emma without mentioning Sasha Farber. In the world of reality TV, we usually expect glass-smashing drama and messy Instagram unfollows. This wasn't that.
Sasha has been surprisingly mature about the whole thing. In late 2025, he told E! News that he and Emma are still like family. He even commented "Congrats guys 👏" on a PDA-filled post Emma made when Alan reached the Season 34 finals.
It’s rare. It’s mature. It’s also probably why the DWTS cast remains so tight-knit. Host Alfonso Ribeiro noted that the "connection" between Alan and Emma was no surprise to anyone in their inner circle—they’d all known for months before the public kiss.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Them
A lot of fans think this was a "rebound" or a quick tour fling. It wasn't. By the time they went public in April 2025, they had already been quietly seeing each other for a significant amount of time.
They’ve also mastered the art of the "normal" date. In December 2025, they hit up a Los Angeles Kings game with Andy Richter. They ended up on the Kiss Cam, and in a classic Alan Bersten move, he followed up the kiss with Emma by jokingly kissing Andy Richter on the cheek.
They aren't trying to be the next "perfect" couple. They’re just two people who found something real in a very weird, high-glitz industry.
Moving Forward in 2026
So, what’s next? As of early 2026, the couple is still going strong. They spent the 2025 holidays together, sharing glimpses of their "alien-themed" Christmas and family trips on Instagram.
If you're looking to follow their journey or understand why this pairing works, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the rehearsals: Their best moments aren't the polished ones on Tuesday nights; it's the behind-the-scenes support they show each other’s teams.
- Ignore the "blind items": Most rumors about backstage fights between them have been debunked by the couple themselves.
- Focus on the dance: They’ve mentioned they’re even prepping a "just in case" routine for high-profile events (like the rumored Taylor Swift wedding everyone is obsessed with).
Whether they're on the ballroom floor or the Jumbotron at a hockey game, Alan Bersten and Emma Slater have proven that sometimes, the best partnerships are the ones that take a decade to finally click.
Actionable Insights for Fans
To stay updated on the couple without falling for "clickbait" rumors, stick to verified interviews on the House of Maher podcast or PEOPLE exclusives. For the most authentic look at their relationship, their joint Instagram Reels—like the "One Arm Pickup Challenge"—offer a more honest glimpse than any tabloid headline ever will.