Whitney Leavitt’s Exit Marks an Emotional Turning Point on Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars

18 November 2025

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas. Credit : abc

For 32-year-old reality TV star and MomTok personality Whitney Leavitt, Tuesday night’s emotionally charged semi-final on Dancing With the Stars was an unforgettable chapter but it was not the one that would carry her across the finish line. Leavitt and her professional partner Mark Ballas were eliminated in Week 10’s Prince-themed episode, despite securing the third-highest score of the evening, 58 points, and delivering two strong routines: a cha-cha to “1999” and a Viennese waltz to “Slow Love.”

From the opening steps of the evening it was clear this would not be a typical week. As each of the six remaining couples performed two dances one in a style new to them this season and one a repeat to show how far they had progressed the atmosphere inside the ballroom was electric. The show announced it had pulled in its largest vote total ever, a fact that underscored just how high the stakes had grown.

Leavitt, partnered with three-time champion Ballas, entered the evening with momentum at their backs. Both dances drew glowing remarks from the judges. During their Viennese waltz Ballas described Leavitt as floating across the floor, while her partner called the performance “my absolute favorite” of their time together for its authenticity and grace. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised the routine, calling it “impeccable,” and Derek Hough said that the moment had revealed Leavitt’s soul and love for dance in a way the competition had not yet seen.

With that in mind, the shock of their exit stunned not just the contestants but the live audience and viewers at home. The moment of elimination came in a flurry of announcements: one by one the couples were declared safe first Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, then Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, and Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach. That set the stage for the reveal: Leavitt and Ballas were next and their season was over. Alix, Jordan Chiles, Dylan, Robert and Elaine had earned the coveted spots in the finale.

Leavitt’s reaction was swift and heartfelt. On stage she said, “I already feel like a winner. This show has meant the absolute world to me. It’s changed my life and I’ll forever be so grateful for this experience.” Ballas, who time and again has carried partners deep into the competition and into triumph, echoed the sentiment, saying simply, “I had the best time. I love this show.”

In a candid follow-up interview the pair admitted they had sensed their departure was imminent. Ballas admitted, “We knew, we felt it. I think we just had a feeling.” Leavitt concurred: “We had a gut feeling it was us.” Yet even with that awareness the loss still carried weight. Leavitt described the elimination as feeling “like a breakup” because of the bonds formed with her partner, the crew, the production over weeks of rehearsal, performance and shared vulnerability.

The episode had one more surprising moment: Leavitt’s raw emotion in the skybox interview following her performance. As she fought back tears reflecting on her journey, she unintentionally uttered a profanity live on TV, prompting host Julianne Hough to quip “We’re going to have to bleep that.” The moment went viral almost instantly, shining a stark spotlight on the emotional intensity of the competition and the high-pressure environment the contestants navigate week after week.

For Leavitt this exit is not the end but a turning point. Her message to viewers was clear: despite the elimination she plans to carry forward everything she learned about rhythm, movement, confidence and self-discovery. In her own words she came into the ballroom “wanting to give it my all every single dance,” and it is evident she accomplished that goal.

The focus now shifts to the final five competitors: Earle, Chiles, Efron, Irwin and Hendrix. Their road ahead promises three rounds of competition, with an added twist of surprise songs in the finale a format change the show has dubbed “the most demanding season finale in history.”

While Leavitt will not be on the dance floor come finale night, she leaves the show changed. A woman who entered as a breakout reality star has walked away with new confidence and the respect of her partners, judges and fans. Her season may have ended earlier than expected, but her journey through Dancing With the Stars clearly accomplished something far greater than a trophy.