Sasha Farber Expresses Best Wishes for Ex Emma and Alan: Pod Highlights

Dancing With the Stars’ Sasha Farber is opening up about behind-the-scenes insights from the popular reality dance show and sharing his thoughts on ex-wife Emma Slater’s relationship with fellow pro Alan Bersten.

“You know, things don’t always pan out. That’s just how life is. After being with someone for so long, they become family, whether you’re together or not,” Farber shared about Slater during the Monday, January 19, episode of iHeartRadio’s “Casual Chaos” podcast.

Farber and Slater were married from 2018 until their split in 2023, with their divorce finalized the following year. Us Weekly revealed in 2024 that Slater and Bersten were “hooking up,” and the couple confirmed their relationship with an onstage kiss during a live DWTS show in 2025.

“At the end of the day, we still support each other,” Farber said of their relationship. “I genuinely want her to be happy and wish them nothing but the best. It’s wonderful. Good luck to them.”

Continue reading for more insights from Farber’s appearance on the “Casual Chaos” podcast:

Sasha Farber Discusses Developing ‘Feelings’ On ‘DWTS’

Sasha Farber observed that being together nonstop on DWTS can spark “feelings,” emphasizing, “I wouldn’t classify them as fake at all because they’re real. It’s happening. You’re not forcing anything.”

He noted that DWTS “probably has a better success rate than many dating shows,” pointing out that “strong bonds are formed,” allowing participants to “get past everything.”

“I dislike dating. But when you’re trying to find someone special, it takes time to get to know them. This situation throws you right in. ‘Let’s go. Hi, nice to meet you. We’re going to dance close and see each other up close,’” Farber remarked. “It’s a great format because A) you’re telling a story through dance and B) sometimes feelings can develop.”

Sasha Farber Expresses Desire to Have Kids

In 2023, Emma Slater disclosed that a disagreement over having children was the root cause of her split from Sasha Farber — a path he still wishes to pursue.

“That’s what I’m truly searching for. It’s not a hard realization, but I come from such a loving family that I see how my parents love each other. I want little Farbers running around,” he expressed.

Sasha Farber Acknowledges It Wasn’t ‘Easy’ to Skip Season 34 of ‘DWTS’

When asked about his experience not participating in season 34 of DWTS, Farber said, “It was unique because it feels like home after so many seasons.”

“I was still involved during the first two weeks of the premiere,” he elaborated. “I wouldn’t lie and say it was easy — it wasn’t. I know the level I can perform at. It was difficult, but rewarding to see friends succeed and support them,” he explained.

Farber mentioned that the show “didn’t have a partner” available for him, but DWTS did “offer [him] other opportunities.”

“Given my experience, I thought, ‘Alright, I can sit this one out and pick up smaller tasks along the way,’” he said.

Sasha Farber Remembers a Call From Snooki’s Dad

When partnered with Snooki in season 17, Sasha Farber was “constantly on the go” between the show and the east coast for her family. During a two-week stay in Los Angeles, Snooki decided not to travel, prompting a call from her father.

“Her dad called me, telling me, ‘Make sure you take care of her.’ I reassured him, ‘I’ve got this. Don’t worry.’ But then, when rehearsal started, she was a bit late. I was like, ‘Snooks, where are you?’ Her real name is Nicole. I said, ‘Nicole, where are you?’ She replied, ‘I’m coming, sorry for the delay,’” he recounted.

Farber recalled hearing background noises as he waited over an hour for Snooki to arrive, only for her to enter with Jenni “JWoww” Farley, announcing they had gotten tattoos.

“I thought, ‘Her dad is going to kill me,’” Farber remarked. “But she was a blast to work with.”

Sasha Farber and Selma Blair ‘Support Each Other’

Sasha Farber stated that he and former partner Selma Blair “have each other’s backs,” mentioning he recently checked in on her after not hearing from her. (Farber and Blair competed on season 31 of DWTS but had to withdraw due to her health issues with multiple sclerosis.)

“I heard Pip, her little dog, barking. I thought, what if Scout, her service animal, is there? What if she fell? You start to worry. I was wondering, what if she fell? What if she had a seizure? What’s happening?” he said. “Since Scout didn’t bark, I wondered if he wasn’t home or if he was just lying beside her.”

Farber ended up calling a few contacts and then drove around the neighborhood, eventually spotting Blair coming out of a nail salon.

“She called me, apologizing, ‘I forgot my phone at home. I walked to the nail salon and couldn’t get back. A friend dropped me off, and we just lost track of time.’ I was relieved,” he said. “She assured me, ‘Yes, I’m okay, we’re good.’”