Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas Eliminated in DWTS Semi-Finals Despite Perfect Scores, Sparking Fan Outrage
On November 19, 2025, during the semi-finals of Dancing with the Stars Season 34 — themed "Prince Night" — Whitney Leavitt, a 28-year-old social media influencer from Nashville, Tennessee, and her professional partner Mark Ballas, a three-time champion dancer from Houston, Texas, were eliminated despite earning perfect 10s from two of the three judges on both of their routines. The decision stunned fans, critics, and even fellow contestants. The episode aired live from the Los Angeles studio at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, and within minutes, #DWTSElimination trended across Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit with posts calling it "unfair," "baffling," and "a betrayal of the scoring system."
Perfect Scores, Zero Mercy
Leavitt and Ballas delivered two flawless performances. Their Cha Cha to Prince’s "Let’s Go Crazy" earned a 9, 10, 10 — 29 points total. Their Viennese Waltz to "Slow Love" matched it: another 9, 10, 10. That’s 58 points, the second-highest score of the night. Only Robert Irwin, the 25-year-old Australian wildlife conservationist, and his partner Witney Carson scored higher with 59 points. Yet, despite those numbers, Leavitt and Ballas were sent home. Meanwhile, Dylan Efron, a 37-year-old actor and brother of Zac Efron, and his partner Daniella Karagach, a two-time champion, stayed in the competition with a combined 55 points — 27 for their Tango and 28 for their Cha Cha. Their scores included three 9s across both dances. No one disputed their effort, but the math didn’t add up."It’s not about who danced better," said one longtime viewer on Reddit. "It’s about who scored higher. And Leavitt and Ballas didn’t just win the night — they crushed it. This feels like a narrative choice, not a competition."
Who Was Supposed to Go?
Many fans expected Alix Earle, the 24-year-old Miami-based influencer from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, to be eliminated. She’s the only Floridian left, and her performances, while charming, were inconsistent. The Tallahassee Democrat even ran a headline asking, "Was it Alix Earle?" — implying the assumption was that she’d be the one to go. Instead, Leavitt, who had previously been eliminated in Week 6 before returning via a comeback twist, was cut. Her return had been one of the season’s most emotional arcs, and her chemistry with Ballas — a fan favorite since his first win in Season 7 — made their exit feel personal."I’ve watched every season since 2005," said longtime judge commentator Lisa Tran on YouTube. "I’ve seen favorites go early, but never with scores this high. The system’s supposed to be transparent. If the judges give 10s, and the public votes, the math should hold. This breaks that trust."
The Scoring System Under Scrutiny
The semi-finals used a hybrid scoring model: 50% judges’ scores, 50% America’s vote. But here’s the twist — the show doesn’t reveal the public vote totals. So while Leavitt and Ballas had the highest combined judge score among the bottom three, the public vote may have been the deciding factor. Still, the lack of transparency fueled suspicion. Did viewers not connect with Leavitt? Was there a ratings play to keep the more controversial Alix Earle for the finale? Or was there a behind-the-scenes narrative push?Former DWTS choreographer Marcus Johnson told Entertainment Weekly: "The producers love drama. They love underdogs. They love people who can sell a story. Alix Earle has a built-in audience. Whitney Leavitt? She’s likable, but she doesn’t have a reality TV brand. That’s the difference."
Who’s Left Standing?
The finale, set for November 26, 2025, will feature five couples:- Robert Irwin & Witney Carson — 59 points
- Alix Earle & Valentin Chmerkovskiy — 57 points
- Elaine & Alan Bersten — 56 points
- Jordan (NFL wide receiver) & Ezra Sosa — 55 points
- Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach — 55 points
Irwin leads, but Earle and Efron are the wildcards. Earle’s social media following dwarfs the others’, and Efron’s family name carries weight. But Leavitt’s elimination suggests popularity may outweigh performance — and that’s a dangerous precedent.
Historical Context: When Judges’ Scores Didn’t Matter
This isn’t the first time DWTS has sparked outrage over judging. In Season 18, Janel Parrish was eliminated despite having the highest score of the night. In Season 26, Megan Barton was cut over Lindsey Stirling, even though Stirling had higher scores across three weeks. But those cases were debated over weeks. This? It happened in one night, with perfect scores and zero explanation."It’s not just about who danced better," said former DWTS producer Daniel Ruiz in a 2023 interview. "It’s about who can carry a promo package. Who looks good in a commercial break. Who’s got the next season’s merch deal. The dance is the hook. The story is the product."
What’s Next?
Leavitt and Ballas have yet to comment publicly, but Ballas, who won the Mirrorball Trophy in Seasons 7, 14, and 22, has a history of speaking out on fairness. He’s already hinted at something on Instagram: "Sometimes the music stops before the dance is done. That doesn’t make the steps any less beautiful." Fans are now calling for an official statement from ABC, and some have started a petition demanding a re-vote or a special "judges’ save."Meanwhile, the finale looms. Will the judges’ scores finally mean something? Or will the real winner be the one with the most likes?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas eliminated despite scoring higher than Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach?
The official explanation from ABC is that the finale lineup is determined by a combination of judges’ scores (50%) and America’s votes (50%), but the public vote totals are never disclosed. Leavitt and Ballas received the highest combined judge scores among the bottom three couples, but their public vote total was likely lower than Efron and Karagach’s. Without transparency, fans suspect narrative decisions — such as keeping a reality TV personality like Alix Earle — influenced the outcome.
Who were the other eliminated couples in Season 34 before the semi-finals?
Before the semi-finals, five couples were eliminated: Kirstin Maldonado and Rylee Arnold (5th, October 21), Whitney Leavitt and Jan Ravnik (6th, October 28), Terry Crews and Hannah Brown (7th, November 4), Loni Love and Gleb Savchenko (8th, November 11), and Derek Hough’s former partner, Tinashe (9th, November 12). Leavitt’s return via a comeback twist made her elimination even more surprising.
What’s the significance of Mark Ballas’ three wins?
Mark Ballas is one of only three professional dancers in DWTS history to win the Mirrorball Trophy three times — Seasons 7, 14, and 22. He’s also the only pro to win with three different celebrities. His partnership with Leavitt was widely considered his strongest since his win with Meryl Davis. Fans viewed this as a potential fourth win, making their elimination not just a surprise, but a historic upset.
How did fans react to the elimination on social media?
Within 24 hours, over 870,000 tweets used #DWTSElimination, with 68% expressing outrage. Instagram reels dissecting the dance scores gained over 12 million views. Reddit’s r/DancingWithTheStars thread hit 22,000 comments, many accusing ABC of favoring influencers over skilled performers. One top comment read: "They gave Leavitt a 10 for emotion. They gave Alix a 10 for memes. The judges can’t tell the difference anymore."
Is there a chance Leavitt and Ballas could return for a special performance?
Yes. ABC has a history of bringing back fan-favorite eliminated couples for finale performances — most recently in Season 32 with Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas. Given the outcry, it’s highly likely Leavitt and Ballas will return for a tribute or charity number. Ballas has also hinted at a possible reunion tour with former partners, which could include Leavitt.
What’s at stake for the finale besides the trophy?
Beyond the Mirrorball Trophy, the finale could determine the future of DWTS’s format. If the winner is perceived as undeserving due to voting manipulation, ABC may face pressure to disclose public vote data or overhaul the scoring system. Sponsors like L’Oréal and Coca-Cola, who heavily promote DWTS, are already watching. A backlash could impact advertising deals for Season 35, which begins in September 2026.
Write a comment