Alix Earle Reveals How Sister Izabel Mended Family After Dad’s Affair

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Alix Earle would be the first to admit that, for a moment there, her world was a bit of a hot mess. 

Even though she was young, the celebrity known from *Dancing With the Stars* still clearly remembers an incident from 2008. Her mother, Alisa Earle, took her and her sister, Ashtin Earle, away from their New Jersey home—which was crowded with photographers—and brought them to their cousins’ house.

Looking back on a 2023 episode of the *Call Her Daddy* podcast, she explained that she was completely unaware of what was happening when they first arrived. She initially believed news crews were simply talking to people in the neighborhood, not that they were paparazzi.

I didn’t find out the full story about my dad, Thomas “TJ” Earle, and his affair with my future stepmom, Ashley Dupré, for several years. It took a long time for everything to come to light, and it was really difficult to process when it finally did.

Alix began noticing people talking, which made her curious. As a fourth grader, she decided to search for her family online. That’s when she discovered that everything she thought she knew about the last two years of her life wasn’t true.

Alix recalled that her father’s affair became public because the woman he had it with was already famous for her relationships with prominent figures, including then-New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. She explained that this pre-existing notoriety drew attention to her father’s involvement as well.

Which meant for the future TikToker, “My world crashed down in that moment.” 

For a time, she had to carefully navigate through the debris. While she praises her mother for handling the situation with remarkable maturity and never dwelling on the specifics, Alisa ultimately divorced her husband, a construction company owner, who then began a relationship with Ashley.

Alix said meeting her was really strange. She was told to be polite and accommodating, but she actually felt incredibly angry and wanted to confront the woman. It felt bizarre, like she, as a younger person, was being forced to act more responsibly than someone much older.

Her life changed again in 2013 when Ashley and TJ got married and had a baby, Izabel.

When I visited her in the hospital, I felt this strong urge to care for her and protect her,” Alix shared, recalling why she chose to honor the now-12-year-old on *Dancing with the Stars’* Dedication Night. “That feeling quickly became my priority, even more so than anything else I was going through at the time.”

Alix shared that the experience was incredibly beneficial for her personal growth and played a key role in reuniting her family, giving them a fresh start together.

Alix’s performing group now includes her younger siblings, Penelope and Thomas James Earle II. However, it was Penelope, the middle schooler, who Alix chose to perform with her and partner Val Chmerkovskiy in an emotional contemporary dance on October 15th.

Alix shared in an interview with TopMob News that despite being the older sister, her sibling has often felt like a mentor to her. She explained that her sister helped her grow up quickly and taught her valuable life lessons, something Alix deeply appreciates and believes is rare to find.

In a 2023 interview with *Elle*, Alix shared that her family has moved forward from past difficulties. “We’re in a really good place now,” she said, adding, “We’ve all worked through whatever happened and are doing well as a family.”

Though, yes, it was messy. 

Alix explained on her 2024 podcast, *Hot Mess*, that she doesn’t want anyone to assume their family always seemed perfect after their parents’ divorce. She shared that it took years of difficult conversations and struggles to reach the positive place they’re in now, and she’s thankful they made it through.

She explained to *Elle* that it’s become normal for her, her father, mother, and stepmother to travel together. She added that they’ve all moved past any previous issues and function as a family now.

She told TopMob that what her family does best is support each other, stay true to themselves, and remember their shared history and how much they’ve overcome together. She believes this strong connection is what matters most.

I’m so excited they’re giving us a peek behind the scenes of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ as Earle keeps wowing us on the dance floor! It’s amazing to finally get some insight into what goes on behind the magic.

In 2019, *Variety* reported that contestants on *Dancing With the Stars* initially earn around $125,000 for rehearsals and the first two weeks of the show, with payouts increasing weekly for those who continue. Sources at the time said the maximum a star could earn was $295,000.

However, Bobby Bones, who won season 27 with Sharna Burgess in 2018, claimed he made significantly more.

Speaking on Jason Tartick’s *Trading Secrets* podcast in September 2025, Bones detailed the payment structure: no money for the first episode, $10,000 for the second, and increasing amounts each week – potentially reaching $50,000 per episode if a contestant lasted long enough. He also stated he received a base salary of around $110,000, ultimately earning nearly $400,000 from the show.

ABC has not officially confirmed these reported figures.

Details about how much the professional dancers earn aren’t widely available. However, like the celebrity contestants, it appears their earnings increase the further they progress in the competition.

Even if a pro is eliminated early on, they still receive payment.

Jenna Johnson explained on the June 2025 episode of *The Morning After* podcast with Kelly Stafford and Hank Winchester, “You’re guaranteed a salary for a certain number of weeks.” She also noted that contracts vary, saying, “I can’t speak for everyone.”

It seems professional dancers on *Dancing with the Stars* don’t earn extra money for winning the show, despite what many might think. While winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy is a great accomplishment, the real financial benefit comes from making it to the finale. As pro dancer Cheryl Burke explained on *The Morning After*, getting to the end of the season means a full season’s salary *plus* a bonus. Winning doesn’t come with a large cash prize to split with a celebrity partner – it’s more about the trophy and the experience.

That doesn’t seem to be true. Dancer Lindsay Arnold shared on the 2022 podcast *Trading Secrets* that her pay was reduced by more than half after she moved from being a professional dancer to a troupe member.

Professional dancers have very little say in who they’re paired with on shows like *Dancing With the Stars*. Lindsay explained on the *Hot Smart Rich* podcast that pairings are decided by producers, and dancers are simply told who their partner is and expected to make it work. Jenna added on *The Morning After* that the pairings are usually kept secret until the last minute to capture a genuine reaction – dancers don’t even know who their partner is until they meet them!

According to former showrunner Rob Wade, the *Dancing With the Stars* team considers height, body type, personality, and compatibility when making matches. They avoid pairing people who are likely to clash, as the experience is too intense for everyone involved. Unlike shows like *The Bachelor*, the goal isn’t drama – it’s to create a positive experience for the celebrity, the viewers, and themselves. They’ve learned from past mistakes where incompatible pairings led to a miserable experience.

Dancing With the Stars requires a huge time commitment. Rylee Arnold, who danced with Stephen Nedoroscik in season 33, explained on the *Lightweights Podcast With Joe Vulpis* that rehearsals typically last four hours, happening either from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., or 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. But the work doesn’t end there – she often meets with producers or the creative team, practices choreography, or studies dance videos. Rylee says her life is completely dedicated to the show, but she loves it and finds it fulfilling. It’s a demanding schedule with rehearsals happening Tuesday through Sunday, followed by camera blocking on Monday and then another show on Tuesday – there are truly no days off.

Emma Slater and Britt Stewart shared in an Instagram video in September 2025 that they were mostly on board with something, but it involved working with the show’s producers.

If you think the quickstep dance is fast-paced, you should see how quickly the costume department works! Costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner explained to TV Insider that they collaborate with set, lighting, and dance teams to create a unique story for each dancer’s outfit. Then, they have just five days – sometimes only half a day per costume, *before* adding all the rhinestones – to make everything. With a team of around 20 people plus an outside tailor, it’s a huge operation.

In fact, Steven Norman Lee shared that dancers often don’t try on their costumes until just hours before the show. While they might re-use pants for male dancers, most outfits are custom-made each week.

As Gschwendtner added, they do re-use items for group performances or promotional shoots, but never for the actual competition. They strive to keep everything fresh and new each week to maintain visual interest for the audience.

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2025-10-15 19:48