Overview

• Reports say Hudson sought to choose her partner, set rehearsal times to attend UNC games, and limit interviews, which producers would not accept.
• Production sources say Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui signed on two days before the cast reveal to fill the unexpected vacancy.
• Judge Derek Hough acknowledged a cast member backed out and said keeping them would have been “a little messy,” without naming Hudson.
• Us Weekly cites a source who framed the pullback as a potential conflict with other projects, offering a differing account of why talks ended.
• Coverage links the episode to earlier reports that Hudson sought executive-producer credit on a proposed UNC Hard Knocks feature, reflecting her role in managing Bill Belichick’s off‑field brand.