Giada De Laurentiis has revealed a painful toe injury just days before making her Dancing With the Stars debut. The celebrity chef injured her toe during rehearsals for Season 35, but she remains determined to continue training with professional dancer Alan Bersten.
De Laurentiis shared the update on Instagram on September 7. She showed fans her bruised and discolored middle toe and explained that the injury happened after what she described as a good day of rehearsals.
The injury comes shortly before the new season begins. According to ABC, Dancing With the Stars Season 35 will have a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
Giada De Laurentiis Shows Her Bruised Toe
The Giada De Laurentiis toe injury happened during the demanding rehearsal process for Dancing With the Stars.
In her Instagram video, De Laurentiis explained that she had “busted” her toe during practice. She then showed the camera the affected area, which appeared noticeably bruised and purple.
She also said she expected she might lose the toenail because of the injury.
Despite the discomfort, De Laurentiis did not suggest that she was stepping away from the competition. Instead, she indicated that she planned to deal with the problem and return to rehearsals.
The chef also captioned the post with the phrase “no pain, no gain,” reflecting her determination to keep going.
De Laurentiis Is Still Preparing for DWTS Season 35
The injury is happening at a particularly important time for De Laurentiis. She is preparing for her first appearance in the ballroom competition alongside professional dancer Alan Bersten.
ABC confirmed the pairing when it announced the Season 35 cast earlier this month.
For De Laurentiis, competing on Dancing With the Stars represents a major change from her usual work in food and television.
She previously explained that the show had approached her multiple times before she finally agreed to participate. Her daughter, Jade, also encouraged her to accept the opportunity.
That decision has now put the celebrity chef through an intense dance-training schedule. De Laurentiis has acknowledged that the experience has left her with sore muscles and has challenged her in ways she did not expect.
Why Giada De Laurentiis Joined Dancing With the Stars
De Laurentiis’ decision to join DWTS came during a period of change in her family life.
Her 18-year-old daughter, Jade, recently started college. That milestone helped motivate De Laurentiis to try something outside her normal comfort zone.
Rather than continuing to turn down the show, she decided it was the right moment to take on a completely different challenge.
The decision also gives viewers a chance to see the longtime television chef in an unfamiliar setting. Instead of working in a kitchen, she will have to learn choreography, ballroom technique, and performance skills under the guidance of Bersten.
Who Is Giada De Laurentiis Dancing With?
Giada De Laurentiis is partnered with professional dancer Alan Bersten for Season 35.
Bersten is one of the returning professional dancers competing alongside the celebrity cast this season. Together, the pair will compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
The Season 35 lineup features 16 celebrities from entertainment, sports, reality television, and other fields. The cast includes Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Taylor Hanson, Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Amber Glenn, and Ezra Frech, among others.
When Does Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Premiere?
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premieres across two nights on September 15 and September 16, 2026.
Both premiere episodes are scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes will also stream on Hulu the following day, according to ABC.
That means De Laurentiis has very little time to recover from her rehearsal injury before stepping onto the ballroom floor.
For now, however, there is no indication from the available reports that the toe injury has forced her out of the competition.
Giada De Laurentiis Remains Focused on Her DWTS Debut
A bruised toe is certainly not the start De Laurentiis would have wanted before her ballroom debut. Still, her response suggests she is approaching the challenge with a determined attitude.
The celebrity chef has already described the training as physically demanding. Now, she will have to manage an injury while continuing to prepare for one of the biggest new experiences of her career.
Whether the injury affects her first performance remains to be seen. For fans, the answer will come when Dancing With the Stars Season 35 officially gets underway on September 15.
Source note: Details about De Laurentiis’ injury come from her Instagram update, while Season 35’s cast, pairing, and premiere information have been confirmed by ABC.