Shocking Eliminations Shake Up the DWTS Ballroom

Matthew Willar 

News Editor 

The Dancing with the Stars ballroom has been filled with shocking eliminations and exciting routines this season. As the competition heads into its ninth week of competition, fans have expressed both excitement and surprise at many of the contestants. 

This season has sparked particular outrage among fans due to numerous eliminations. Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui and her partner Brandon Armstrong were eliminated in week 3; despite the pair receiving the lowest score of the night, they had received high scores in the first two weeks. Many fans anticipated them to be in the finale. 

Meredith Fontaine, an avid viewer of the show, said, “I was a little disappointed to see them go home earlier than some others. I do feel bad because she was better than certain others.” 

Despite public criticism of entrepreneur and podcaster Hillaria Baldwin and her partner, Gleb Savchenko, the pair scored near the top of the leaderboard in all four of their performances. They were eliminated in week 4 despite their high scores. 

Sydney Barber provided expert insight on the controversy surrounding Baldwin, which ultimately led to her early elimination.

She said, “A lot of people are upset that a lot of the stars this season have dance experience, but the thing that was different about Hilaria was that she had ballroom experience. She had beaten Emma Slater, one of the pros, in a ballroom competition when she was younger. Having dance experience is one thing, but having ballroom experience is another.” 

Madeline Snow added that Baldwin’s casting on the show “…takes away the principle of Dancing with the Stars.” 

Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying and his partner Rylee Arnold were eliminated in week 5. The pair consistently scored near the bottom of the leaderboard, but Hoying’s popularity and improvement each week saw fans in shock when he was eliminated. 

Ashley Amendola, another avid fan of the show, reacted to Hoying and Arnold’s elimination, sharing, “I was completely caught off guard and so upset. To me, Scott seemed like he had the ability to go far.” 

Perhaps the most surprising contestant this season has been actor and comedian Andy Richter and his partner Emma Slater. The pair has placed at the bottom of the leaderboard in all but week 2, but remained in the competition from fan votes. 

Many fans have expressed their love for Richter while simultaneously admitting he should be eliminated over the other contestants who have consistently scored higher. 

Fontaine shared, “I feel like Andy has been improving every week, and that’s what the show is about at the heart of it. But also I feel like it’s getting a little ridiculous that he’s still here.” 

This season of Dancing with the Stars has been one for the books, from celebrating its 20th anniversary and a slew of shocking eliminations, more than in many previous seasons. The show has three episodes left, with its highly anticipated ‘20th Birthday Party’ episode airing on Nov. 11.

Former professional dancer Louis Van Amstel revealed on his Instagram a surprise for this episode, sharing, “The six pros from Season 1 will be on that dance floor as part of the opening number.” He also shared that every celebrity and professional dancer has been invited to the episode. 

The original six professional dancers from Season 1 were Ashly Delgrosso-Costa, Charlotte Jorgensen, Alec Mazo, Jonathan Roberts, Edyta Sliwinska, and van Amstel. 

The dancers have not appeared on the same stage together since the first season; Jorgensen left after the first season, Mazo and Roberts after the ninth season, and DelGrosso-Costa after the tenth season. 

Sliwinska and van Amstel remained on the show for numerous seasons, with Sliwinska’s last appearance in Season 22 and van Amstel’s in Season 31. Both, however, returned in Season 32 in a special number honoring former head judge Len Goodman, who passed away in 2023. 

With eight couples left, the season is getting closer to crowning its next mirrorball champions. Fans can watch Dancing with the Stars on Tuesdays on ABC and Disney+ and stream the next day on Hulu.