Derek Hough is one of the nicest judges on DWTS. But he had enough of the “negativity” and called on fans to do better. Keep reading for all the details on his motivational speech.
DWTS Contestant Brings Judges To Tears
Tyler Cameron has been near the bottom of the leaderboard on DWTS. However, Bachelorette fans keep saving him from elimination. He didn’t need saving in the last episode after earning a 23 out of 30, his highest score yet. He danced a beautiful Foxtrot with Sharna Burgess on Mariah Carey Night.
He opened up in the pre-show package about the inspiration behind the dance. “I learned the hard way that you can have everything, you think, going and just like that it could go away, you know? With football, with injuries, with losing my mom,” he shared. Tyler Cameron lost his beloved mother, Andrea, unexpectedly in 2020 after she suffered a brain aneurysm.
“She was the most caring, nurturing, but tough, loving, best mom I could’ve ever asked for and this was a show that she dreamed of me going on,” Tyler Cameron said about his mom. His emotional tribute left Derek Hough in tears.
He said that it “hit home” for him. As fans know, Derek Hough’s wife, Hayley Erbert, had emergency brain surgery in 2023 after suffering a brain bleed. Luckily, the doctors were able to save her and the couple went on to welcome their first child, Everley, in 2025.
Derek Hough Calls Out ‘Negativity,’ Tells Fans To Do Better
In addition to his wife’s health scare, Derek Hough is still traumatized from childhood bullying. He’s a big advocate for spreading kindness and positivity. The DWTS judge took to social media on October 10 to mark Mental Health Awareness Day.
“You know, our brains evolved for survival, not necessarily happiness. We were wired to look for danger, for threats: what’s wrong?” he told his followers. “And that instinct has helped keep us alive.”
Derek Hough said that the world is different now, especially with the popularity of social media platforms. “Now we’re living in a completely different world, still running on that same ancient software. And social media knows it, too. The algorithms tap into those instincts: negativity, outrage, criticism.”
He continued, “But is it actually making our lives better? Are we becoming better people because of it? Because to me, that’s reactive.” Derek Hough encouraged his millions of followers to do better, to be better.
“So I just encourage us all, myself included, to look for what’s right, look for what’s beautiful, look for the good in ourselves and in others, because what we look for, we tend to find,” he said. “And remember, what’s bad is always available, but so is what’s good. The question is, what are we choosing to see, and who are we choosing to be?”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger