Connor Wood wanted Jennifer Lawrence to notice him. The actress responded by saying she already had, recalling a New York sighting in which the comedian apparently failed to notice her.
The “Dancing With the Stars” contestant had named Lawrence as his celebrity crush during a BuzzFeed interview. His wish was simple: he wanted the Oscar winner to acknowledge that she thought he was funny.
His professional partner, Rylee Arnold, filmed his reaction to Lawrence’s Instagram reply during rehearsals. Wood went from lying on the studio floor to pacing around the room, trying to work out how he could have missed her.
Entertainment Weekly reported on the exchange on October 22. Lawrence’s comment appeared under a clip from BuzzFeed Celeb’s BFF Test, which featured the dance partners answering questions about how well they knew each other.
Jennifer Lawrence Says She Saw Wood on Eighth Avenue
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During the interview, released October 20, Wood explained that he wanted his own version of a moment involving “Summer House” personality Paige DeSorbo.
DeSorbo had expressed her hope that Lawrence would recognize her sense of humor, and the actress subsequently gave her that acknowledgment. Wood jokingly suggested he had been waiting for his turn first.
“I just want just a little acknowledgment from Jennifer Lawrence that I’m funny,” he said. Wood then looked into the camera and appealed directly to the actress, saying he needed something good to happen quickly. Fans helped by tagging her in the comments.
Lawrence’s response, posted from her verified @jlaw account, was considerably more specific than a compliment. “I saw you on 8th avenue drinking a smoothie and you paid me no mind,” she wrote.
Rylee Arnold Records Wood Trying to Make Sense of the Comment
@ryleearnold You need to pay more attention at your smoothie place @Connor Wood 🐸 ♬ original sound – Rylee Arnold
Arnold’s TikTok, shared October 21, opens with Wood already reacting on the rehearsal floor. She asks what happened as he pushes himself up and examines the message. “No,” he says, before another look produces a much louder “WHAT!”
Wood gets to his feet, moves around the room and puts his hands on his hips while Arnold laughs. He returns to Lawrence’s wording, repeating it with different inflections as though one might make the situation easier to process.
Arnold suggests Lawrence is being funny and reminds him that the actress clearly knows who he is. Wood remains preoccupied with the street address and his own smoothie routine.
Wood also shared the reply to his Instagram Story. A screenshot reproduced by CinemaBlend shows his short response above the comment: “Going to bed.”
Wood and Arnold Improved Their Score Before the Instagram Surprise
The exchange followed a stronger week for Wood and Arnold in the ballroom. Their October 13 samba to Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” earned 25 out of 40 points. In a backstage interview, Wood said he had thought the routine represented a breakthrough and was surprised by the result.
He nevertheless defended the judges when audience members booed their criticism. Speaking separately to Us Weekly, he said their feedback helped him prepare for the following week.
On October 20, the pair performed a Viennese waltz to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” dedicated to Wood’s father, Pete. According to ABC’s Dedication Night recap, all four judges awarded eights, giving them 32 out of 40. Carrie Ann Inaba called him the week’s most improved contestant.
No couple was eliminated that evening. Wood and Arnold advanced with the rest of the cast to the next episode, which will feature a double elimination.