&34;Why are people so committed to throwing shade at this dance?&34; Washington wants to know. Kerry Washington defends costar Julia Stiles' big dance at the en

"Why are people so committed to throwing shade at this dance?" Washington wants to know.

Kerry Washington defends costar Julia Stiles' big dance at the end of Save the Last Dance

"Why are people so committed to throwing shade at this dance?" Washington wants to know.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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September 16, 2025 8:48 p.m. ET

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Kerry Washington at the 2025 Atlanta Film Festival; Julia Stiles in 'Save the Last Dance'. Credit:

Derek White/Getty; Paramount

Kerry Washington isn't here for any Julia Stiles dance slander.

The *Scandal* alum recently defended her *Save the Last Dance* costar during a surprise appearance on Andy Cohen' SiriusXM show, when he brought up their 2001 teen movie and snarked on Stiles' performance in a climactic scene.

"Can we all just agree that Julia Stiles is not the greatest dancer on the planet?" Cohen asked Washington.

But Washington wasn't having it. "Why are people so committed to throwing shade at this dance?" she responded with a laugh.**

Julia Stiles and Kerry Washington in 'Save the Last Dance'.

Paramount/ Everett

The Thomas Carter-directed film features Stiles as Sara, a Midwestern girl and aspiring ballet dancer who moves to Chicago. There she falls in love with Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas), and the two tackle an interracial relationship while he helps her train for a Juilliard audition. Washington plays Derek's sister, Chenille.

Over the years, much has been said about Stiles' final dance — *Saturday Night Live* even spoofed it with Stiles' help in 2023. While Cohen pointed out that people have so much to say about the titular last dance because it "was her big Juilliard audition," he conceded that "yes, dance has changed in 24 years, Kerry Washington. Yes, it has."

"But our choreographer was Fatima [Robinson]," Washington countered. "Fatima's a legend. She was choreographing that dance within a specific cultural context and moment."

"Hashtag blame Fatima," Cohen joked, to which Washington protested, "No, no, no. I love Fatima. I'm just saying, greatness goes through different eras."

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Stiles has taken the scene's legacy in stride, as the *SNL* sketch demonstrated. At the time, she told Cohen on *Watch What Happens Live* that she had hardly any notice that the spoof was happening before she did it.

"They contacted me the Friday before the Saturday show," she recalled. "I scrambled to find someone to take care of my kids until the middle of the night."

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Even so, the *10 Things I Hate About You* star was "thrilled" by the idea.

"I didn't know what the sketch was going to be until, I think, probably Saturday morning," she admitted. "But I thought it was so cool. I was excited to be there. It was so fun."

Watch Stiles' big *Save the Last Dance* dance above.**

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

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