Dylan Efron is clearing the air after a now-viral moment involving his brother Zac Efron took over “Dancing With the Stars” fans’ timelines. During a new appearance on SiriusXM’s “Smith Sisters Live,” the former DWTS competitor explained that Zac’s reaction to his semifinal score was completely taken out of context, despite the internet spending weeks guessing what the actor said on camera.
According to Dylan, Zac was not shading the judges or questioning his brother’s performance. Instead, the 38-year-old actor was simply confused that Dylan and his pro partner, Daniella Karagach, received a score he believed was too low. “I thought it was funny, but then Zac was like, ‘Oh no, they’re misinterpreting it,’” Dylan said per People. He added that Zac genuinely thought the dance deserved more points and was surprised the judges landed on a 27 for their Prince-themed tango to “I Would Die 4 U.”
Fans online immediately began lip-reading Zac’s reaction after the Nov. 18 episode, with some insisting he asked, “Is that a good score?” while others believed he said, “Is that the high score?” Dylan told the hosts that neither interpretation was correct, saying Zac was reacting out of surprise rather than criticism. “I think he was more like, ‘That should have been higher,’” Dylan explained. “Zac got defensive. He’s like, ‘No, they misinterpreted what I meant.’”
The clip, which showed Zac seated in the audience with their mom, Starla Baskett, and Dylan and Zac’s younger sister Olivia, quickly made its way across social media. The moment also sparked jokes from the hosts, who called Zac’s reaction peak “big brother energy.”
Zac’s Long-Awaited ‘DWTS’ Appearance Became a Viral Event
Zac’s attendance at the semifinals was already a major event on its own. Fans had spent weeks publicly pleading for him to show up, according to Page Six, and the Nov. 18 live episode finally delivered. The “High School Musical” alum sat close to the dance floor with 5-year-old Olivia on his lap as Dylan and Karagach competed in their tenth week.
His appearance felt especially meaningful because Dylan previously dedicated his “Rewrite the Stars” routine to Olivia with a subtle nod to Zac. At the time, Dylan told Extra he wasn’t bothered by Zac’s late arrival, saying Zac had been “supporting [him] every day.” Still, viewers erupted online when the cameras cut to Zac in the audience, with many joking that the internet had “bullied him into the ballroom.”
Dylan Reflects on Support and Full-Circle Moments
For Dylan, finally having Zac at the show meant everything. After the semifinals, he told Entertainment Tonight that seeing his family show up together was the highlight of his run on the series. “I grew up watching him do stuff like this, so it’s full circle,” Dylan said. “Looking over and seeing all of them together… that’s my support. I love it.”
