DWTS Shocked Fans: Whitney Leavitt’s Semifinals Elimination Leaves Ballroom Stunned

Dancing With the Stars delivered one of its biggest surprises of Season 34 during the November 18 semifinals. In a true shocked elimination, Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas were sent home despite earning one of the highest scores of the night. Their exit immediately stunned viewers, judges, and even fellow contestants who expected them to advance easily into the finale.

The semifinals, themed around Prince Night, featured two performances from each of the six remaining couples. Scores were then combined with live viewer votes to determine the finalists. With the leaderboard extremely close, the elimination turned into one of the most dramatic moments of the season.

Why This Was the Most Shocked Elimination of the Season

The leaderboard made the result even more surprising. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson led with 59. Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy tied Whitney and Mark at 58. Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, along with Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, were just behind with 57. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach rounded out the board with 55.

Whitney and Mark delivered two of their strongest routines of the season: a Cha Cha that Derek Hough called “literal perfection” and a Viennese Waltz that showcased the most emotional vulnerability Whitney has shown all season. Both routines scored 29 out of 30, placing them near the very top of the standings.

But when results were read, the shock unfolded quickly. Four couples were declared safe: Elaine and Alan, Alix and Val, Robert and Witney, and Dylan and Daniella. That left Whitney and Mark standing beside Jordan and Ezra in the bottom two. Moments later, the hosts revealed that Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas had been eliminated—an outcome few viewers saw coming.

The shocked elimination highlighted the importance of viewer voting when scores are close. In semifinals, even one point of audience support can make the difference between elimination and advancing to the finale.

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas

What Happened on Prince Night Before the Shock

The night was filled with standout performances and emotional stories. Elaine Hendrix earned her first perfect score of the season with a powerful Paso Doble. Jordan Chiles finally secured her long-awaited perfect 30 with a fierce Argentine Tango. Alix Earle delivered an emotional Viennese Waltz to “Purple Rain,” earning high praise from all three judges.

Robert Irwin solidified his frontrunner status with a perfect-scoring jive that had the ballroom erupting. Zac Efron’s appearance in the audience to cheer on his brother Dylan added an unexpected celebrity moment.

Whitney’s performances were filled with emotion as she reflected on how DWTS had helped her reconnect with her identity and confidence. Her Viennese Waltz moved the judges, while her candid skybox moment—where she accidentally cursed on live TV—showed how deeply invested she was in the journey.

But despite a nearly flawless night, the DWTS shocked elimination of Whitney Leavitt proved that semifinals can be unpredictable. With scores nearly identical across the board, viewer votes ultimately reshaped the finale lineup.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why was this considered a shocked elimination?

Because Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas scored 58 out of 60 and were still eliminated despite being near the top of the leaderboard.

Q2: Who had the highest score of Week 10?

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson led the semifinals with a total of 59.

Q3: How did viewer voting play into the elimination?

The semifinals combine judges’ scores with audience votes, and the extremely close scoring made the vote totals the deciding factor.

Q4: Who advanced to the Season 34 finale?

Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, and Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa.

Q5: What did Whitney say after being eliminated?

She said she felt like a winner already and that the show had changed her life, expressing gratitude for the experience.