Dancing With The Stars' Mark Ballas and celebrity partner Kristin Cavallari may be competing against Chaz Bono on the ABC show's upcoming season, but the dancing duo are defending Chaz to the end!

Since it was announced that Bono would compete on the show, critics have sent out vicious backlash because Bono, formerly Chastity Bono, changed his sex.

Our photogs caught up with the competitors as they headed to rehearsal today, where Mark Ballas told us:

    "They [critics] should leave him alone! He's a wonderful person."


Chaz's mom, Cher, has also spoken out against critics.