The Shocking DWTS Semifinals Exit: Why Whitney Leavitt's Elimination Sparked Fan Outrage

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The ballroom saw one of the most controversial eliminations in recent memory during the Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) Season 34 Semifinals, which aired in November 2025. The combination of high scores from the judges and a surprising lack of viewer votes created a perfect storm of outrage, leaving one of the season’s most dynamic couples just shy of the coveted finale. This deep dive explores the shocking exit, the couple at the center of the controversy, and the fan frenzy that followed, demanding a change to the show's voting system.

The Semifinals, often a night of triumphant performances, turned into a night of disbelief for many long-time viewers and the judges themselves. The elimination of a couple who had consistently delivered high-scoring, emotionally resonant dances highlights the unpredictable nature of the celebrity dance competition, where popularity and viewer votes hold as much weight as technical skill and artistry.

Who Was Voted Out in the DWTS 2025 Semifinals?

The couple who faced the shocking elimination just before the Season 34 finale was social media star and reality television personality Whitney Leavitt and her professional partner, Mark Ballas. Their exit on Prince Night was immediately branded by fans as one of the most unfair results in DWTS history, primarily because of their exceptional performance quality and strong judges' scores.

The elimination process, which combines judges' scores with viewer votes, ultimately placed Leavitt and Ballas in the bottom tier. Despite their technical skill and high ranking on the leader board, the public vote was not strong enough to propel them into the final round. This result instantly reignited the debate over whether the show should reintroduce the "Judges' Save" to prevent strong dancers from being prematurely eliminated.

Whitney Leavitt: A Biographical Profile

Whitney Leavitt entered the DWTS Season 34 competition as a well-known figure in the digital space, bringing a significant, yet niche, following to the show. Her journey on the dance floor was marked by emotional vulnerability and surprising technical growth.

  • Full Name: Whitney Leavitt
  • Occupation: Reality Television Star, YouTuber, Social Media Influencer (MomTok)
  • Known For: Starring in the Hulu reality television series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (2024–present).
  • DWTS Season: Season 34 (2025)
  • Professional Partner: Mark Ballas
  • Elimination Date: Semifinals (Week 9), November 2025
  • Final Score: 29/30 (for one of their Semifinals dances)

Leavitt's presence on the show provided a unique perspective, often drawing on her personal life and experiences, which resonated deeply with many viewers. Her partnership with Mark Ballas, a fan-favorite pro known for his creative choreography, was highly anticipated and proved to be a powerful, dynamic pairing throughout the competition.

The Semifinals Performance and Scores

The Semifinals, themed "Prince Night," required the remaining couples to perform two dances. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas delivered two memorable performances, showcasing both their versatility and their commitment to the competition. Their high scores made the subsequent elimination all the more shocking.

For one of their Semifinals routines, the couple performed a captivating Cha-Cha to Prince’s iconic track, “1999.” They also performed a Viennese Waltz, a style that often challenges celebrities due to its technical difficulty and continuous movement. Their high scores—including a near-perfect 29/30 for one of their dances—placed them near the top of the leader board, suggesting they were a lock for the finale.

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba, known for her insightful and often emotional feedback, delivered a comment that summarized Leavitt’s journey perfectly, stating, "Congratulations for turning the pain into art." This praise highlighted the emotional depth and personal growth Leavitt had displayed on the dance floor, making her exit feel like a loss for the artistic integrity of the season.

Fan Fury and the Judges' Save Controversy

The elimination of Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas immediately sent shockwaves through the DWTS fan community. Social media platforms were flooded with comments expressing disbelief and frustration, with many viewers arguing that the results prioritized celebrity popularity over actual dance skill. This phenomenon, where a technically proficient celebrity is eliminated due to a lower volume of public votes, is a recurring issue in the show’s format.

The primary point of contention was the absence of the Judges' Save. This mechanism, which has been used in past seasons, allows the panel of judges (including Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli) to collectively save one of the two bottom-scoring couples from elimination. Fans and dance commentators alike argued that if the Judges' Save had been in place for Season 34, Leavitt and Ballas would have undoubtedly been rescued, ensuring a stronger, more competitive finale.

The outrage over the Semifinals exit underscored a crucial point of topical authority for DWTS: the delicate balance between a dance competition and a popularity contest. The elimination was seen not just as a loss for the couple, but as a potential flaw in the show’s current voting structure, especially as the season's final episodes approached. The controversy surrounding this shocking DWTS exit will likely be a major talking point leading into the next season's casting and rule announcements.

The Final Word on the Shocking Exit

While Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas’s journey on Dancing with the Stars Season 34 came to an abrupt end in the Semifinals, their run remains one of the most memorable of the season. Their performances, characterized by high scores and emotional narratives, solidified their place as genuine contenders. The fury from fans over their unexpected departure serves as a powerful reminder that in the world of celebrity dance competition, the audience's vote is the ultimate, and sometimes most unpredictable, judge.

The Semifinals elimination proved that no celebrity, regardless of their position on the leader board or their consistent improvement, is safe from the combined power of the public vote. For many, Leavitt's exit was a clear case of a talented dancer being "voted out" too soon, leaving a lingering question about what could have been in the grand finale.

The Shocking DWTS Semifinals Exit: Why Whitney Leavitt's Elimination Sparked Fan Outrage
dwts voted out
dwts voted out

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