Do you realize that Derek Hough has ONE Emmy and Jon Hamm has NO Emmys? Sometimes the world just sucks. Anyway, Derek Hough is now a thing. He was featured during the Emmys (during one of the rare non-funereal segments) and he ended up winning the Best Choreographer Emmy. So, Derek has gone from “that dude on Dancing with the Stars” to “that dude who won an Emmy for dancing.” Which is a step up. And on his way up the Hollywood ladder, he’s picked up the darling of the CW, Nina Dobrev. What I can’t decide is whether or not this is “slumming” for Nina.
Did Nina Dobrev speak too soon? The Vampire Diaries actress told Us Weekly earlier this year that she’s in “no rush” to get into a new relationship, but the stunning gal seems to have found herself a new man a lot sooner than she’d anticipated — and it’s none other than BFF Julianne Hough’s older brother Derek!
“[Nina] was hanging a lot with Derek’s sister Julianne,” a source tells Us. “Then she fell for him.”
Dobrev, 24, split with her beau of three years, Ian Somerhalder, in May of this year, and has since been vocal about her desire to focus on other things.
“I’ve been a relationship girl and I’ve been in long-term relationships my whole life until this point, so I think I’m looking forward to spending some time with myself and finding myself again,” she told Us during Cosmopolitan’s Summer Bash on Saturday, Aug. 10. “I’m just discovering different sides of me and growing and then I’ll figure out what I like in a man when I see it.”
And it seems as though the CW actress is already smitten with her new man. In a post to her WhoSay account on Monday, Sept. 23, Dobrev captioned a shot of the 28-year-old Dancing With the Stars pro with his Outstanding Choreography Emmy with a heartfelt message.
“Those of us touched by your light got to watch you brighten up the rest of the world,” she wrote. “Keep shining!”
Hough has similarly fallen head-over-heels for the actress, another insider tells Us.
“Derek is smitten with Nina,” the source says. “He said he hasn’t felt this way for a girl in a long time. …Everyone approves!”
At the Kari Feinstein Emmys Style Lounge on Thursday, Sept. 19, the smooth dancer specifically requested shoes “for his girlfriend” and then “texted Nina for her size,” an eyewitness tells Us.
Sources also confirm the new couple to Life & Style. L&S’s sources say that Julianne set them up and “It got serious really fast and they’re inseparable… They’re already saying ‘I love you.'” Well, that IS fast. But Nina is pretty young – she’s 24 years old to his 28 years. So I guess it makes sense. So is this a rebound thing, something temporary for Nina before she either gets back with Ian Somerhalder or someone higher up on the Hollywood food chain? Or is this something real? I don’t know. We’ll see.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I liked her with Ian.
I’ve always assumed Derek Hough was gay – though I guess this isn’t confirmation either way.
+1
And childishly, I like her less now. You had Damon Salvatore!
Sigh.
Agreed!!
+1
Totally!!!
I thought he was gay too.
Me Too! Wtf
As did I.
I seem to recall that his relationship with Seacrest ended recently, hence the ending of Seacrest’s ‘relationship’ with Julianne Hough.
I, too, was under the impression he was gay.
Gay, Gay, Gay as far as I see it LOL
Derek’s a practicing Mormon – they’re not allowed to be gay.
This is US so it is definitely a pr story. Why would her people do this? It is slumming it for sure. I don’t watch dwts, but from all the blind items, I thought he was gay.
+1
He has grown a beard
Lol!
My gaydar is going crazy with this guy.
WHY is he sticking with that facial hair mess?! It looks horrible!
Hmmm….just because a guy dances doesn’t mean he’s gay. He sure seems like a fun and likable guy, and if she’s sowing her wild oats, she could do worse.
It’s not just because he dances.
Yes, but that last jumping picture should be all the proof you need.
I agree- I don’t get “gaydar” a a concept… Especially when it applied to people like him in a vague way- isn’t it because he is a dancer? Than what is it specifically that makes you feel he is gay- not to mention who cares…I think they both seem nice. I think he is unusual looking but in a pleasant way and she is gorge-
I agree- I don’t get “gaydar” a a concept… Especially when it applied to people like him in a vague way- isn’t it because he is a dancer? Than what is it specifically that makes you feel he is gay- not to mention who cares…
+1, well put, Lucky.
I hate when girls say they’re taking time to know themselves better and BAM! They get a bf right away..please!!
Sounds like a publicity set up.
Uh huh….sure..
I thought he was gay too. What I had assumed was maybe him and Ryan Seacrest like to spend time together and his sister was the beard for everyone?
That was the most popular guess for a blindgossip item.
Another guy that dances being assumed gay for no other reason than he dances. Welcome to the 21st century, folks!
And, like Benjamin Millepied, being dissed for not having the same level of talent as a Hollywood actor. Why doesn’t anyone realize how much training, how much blood, sweat, and tears go into being a dancer a that level? He may be less famous, but he is not less talented in his field than Hamm is in his field. And winning an award for choreography is more like Hamm winning for directing.
Apparently he has been spotted in some gay bars and freaked out when he thought people were taking pictures. He might be bi.
Noooooooo!!!!! I love Ian. 🙁
Ugh he’s so creepy to me. She’s so pretty, total step down.
It’s not because he dances. I legit thought he was gay for the longest time because of his mannerisms, facial expressions, and the way he talks.
If he’s not, he’s not. My mistake. *shrugs*
Prob her age, and face it, some folks are just in love with love. No harm there, and they are cute together.
Saw this coming…Derek is talented without a doubt, but I’m not sure I like them as a couple. He comes off as kind of stuck-up sometimes. I’ve never met him though, so maybe I’m wrong.
I adore Ian! He is just a good guy, so I would say this is a downgrade for Nina.
I don’t watch DWTS, but because Amber Riley is on, I’ve been checking their excerpts on YouTube. He seems like a fun guy and he and Amber seem to have cute interactions with each other.
He doesn’t ping my gaydar, which in itself doesn’t mean much, but it’s rare when it wrong.
I will never believe it. She’s his beard.
Yup. Nina is bearding for Derek
Yep, Derek is gay and this is a PR stunt. Absolutely NO doubt about it. People out there sure are dumb and Hollywood knows that most people will buy anything. Several other women have bearded for Derek in the past. Do not be fooled.
She’s very young, she’ll figure it out. I’m not sure about Derek, he’s a heck of a dancer!!
He’s not Gay.He may be Bisexual but not Gay
Um no. He is gay. Very sweet. Very gay
Every time I see her picture before looking at the heading I think it’s JWow.
Me too!
They seem like a very typical Hollywood couple. Young, pretty, on the scene and probably over in a reasonable amount of time.
I wasn’t surprised that he got the Emmy, I think he has the best name recognition/highest profile. And maybe there were so many from SYTYCD they might have cancelled each other out. However it’s painful to note he has one and Hamm and Poehler have none. He is a big fish in a little known pond. Hamm and Poehler have serious talent and seriously talented competition (no offensive to Hough’s competition).
“He said he hasn’t felt this way for a girl in a long time.” … I bet!!
HAHAH I know I thought that too when I read that….very telling!!
omg… MIA FROM DEGRASSI!?!? woohoo!! go Toronto girl!!
People keep saying she downgraded or she’s dating beneath her. I mean…she’s on a WB show. She may be talented (I’ve never seen her act), but it’s not like she’s this huge star deigning to date a reality show contestant.And Ian Sommerhalder isn’t Brad Pitt or anything in terms of fame or statute (and Ian gives me skeevy vibes anyway).
that being said, something about Derek Hough reminds me of a catfish.
Gross. He is just NOT attractive to me at all. Why Nina???
+1
I hope she’s doing her BFF Julianne a favor.
Fakeship bc he’s gay
Young hollywood sucks bc they keep bearding for ppl
Remember when Tom Cruise divorced and Nina was one of the names I suggested?! I think she wants to prove to Tom Cruise she can be a beard (allegedly!)
She was hanging out with her bff Julianne all summer, why not beard for her brother?
I’m not sure I would want to date a good friend’s brother…I would be worried that if we broke up on bad terms that she might end up hating me.
I love Nina, though! I think she’s pretty versatile. I love how she can play sweet & innocent and sexy villain equally convincingly. And she is BEAUTIFUL.
Re Emmy injustice, how about the fact that Bob Newhart had to collect his Emmy at an industry lunch with no cameras yet the Emmys decide to broadcast Derek’s category? What a slap in the face.
He’s a great dancer but I resent the fact that he is in bed with the DWTS producers and he always got a lock on the trophy – meaning he never got a geriatric partner or someone who can’t dance.
fake fake fake
Yikes. That picture of him jumping with the award is so disturbing. He looks even more like a weird little gremlin than usual.