Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas Eliminated from DWTS Semi-Finals Despite Third-Highest Score

On November 18, 2025, the 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 34 semi-finals delivered one of the most shocking eliminations in the show’s 34-season history: Whitney Leavitt, 28, and her professional partner Mark Ballas, 39, were sent home despite earning the third-highest score of the night — 58 out of 60 points. The performance, held at the ABC Television Center in Burbank, California, featured a Prince Night theme that had fans dancing in their seats — and then furious at their TVs.

Prince Night Delivers Fire, But Not Fairness

The semi-final episode kicked off with a group routine to ‘Let’s Go Crazy,’ setting the tone for an electric night. Each of the six remaining couples performed two routines — one in Round 1, another in Round 2 — all to Prince classics. Robert Irwin, 22, the Australian wildlife conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin, and Witney Carson, 31, nailed a flawless Jive to ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover,’ earning a perfect 30 — the only perfect score of the night. Their total of 59 points made them the clear frontrunner.

But the real standout was Leavitt and Ballas. Their first routine — a fiery Cha Cha to ‘1999’ — earned them 29 points, the highest of Round 1. Their second, a hauntingly beautiful Viennese Waltz to ‘Slow Love,’ was described by judges as "elegant, seamless, and emotionally resonant." All three judges gave them 10s — a rare feat. Their cumulative 58 points tied them with Alix and Val Chmerkovskiy, 34, who also scored 58. Yet only one of them was safe.

Who Got the Boot — And Why?

The elimination came as a gut punch. Leavitt and Ballas had the third-highest score among all six couples. The bottom three were Dylan Efron, 32, and Daniella Karagach, 29 (56 points); Jordan and Ezra Sosa, 30 (57); and Elaine and Alan Bersten, 32 (57). Yet Efron and Karagach — who finished last — advanced. So did the Sosas and Berstens. Leavitt and Ballas? Gone.

The judges — Carrie Ann Inaba, 57; Derek Hough, 39; and Bruno Tonioli, 69 — were unusually tense. According to post-show interviews, there were "heated exchanges" over technical critiques, particularly around the interpretation of rhythm in the Cha Cha. One insider told Entertainment Now that Hough pushed back hard on Tonioli’s criticism of Leavitt’s footwork, calling it "unfair for a ballroom veteran like Ballas."

Mark Ballas: A Legacy on the Line

For Ballas, this wasn’t just another exit. He’s been a fixture on the show since Season 5 in 2007. A three-time champion — with Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson, and Amber Riley — he’s known for his precision, charisma, and ability to elevate his partners. Leavitt, a social media influencer with 2.4 million Instagram followers, was his most dynamic partner in years. "We poured our hearts into every moment on that stage," Ballas said in a tearful post-elimination interview. "And I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together." Leavitt echoed that sentiment: "This journey has been transformative. Though we’re heartbroken to leave before the finale, we’ll always cherish these memories." Their elimination wasn’t just emotional — it was historic. According to Entertainment Now, this is the first time in the show’s history that a couple with a top-three score in semi-finals has been eliminated. Fans took to Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit in droves. "How is Dylan Efron in the finale but not Mark Ballas?" read one viral post. "This isn’t about votes — it’s about sabotage."

Why Dylan Efron Made It — And What It Means

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach finished with the lowest score (56), yet advanced. Why? Because the show’s format allows viewer votes to override judge scores. Efron, the younger brother of actor Zac Efron, has a massive teen and young adult fanbase. His Cha Cha in Round 2 earned a 10 from Bruno Tonioli — a rare nod to his growth. "He’s not the strongest dancer," said one anonymous producer to Parade.com, "but he’s the most searched name on Google this week." This isn’t new. The show has long been accused of favoring celebrities with social media clout over technically superior dancers. But never before has the gap been so glaring in semi-finals. The Top 5 finalists now include: Elaine and Alan Bersten, Alix and Val Chmerkovskiy, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Jordan and Ezra Sosa, and Robert Irwin and Witney Carson.

What Happens Next — And Why It Matters

The finale airs November 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. With Irwin leading the pack and Leavitt/Ballas gone, the narrative has shifted from "who’s the best dancer?" to "who’s the most popular?" And that’s the real controversy.

The show’s producers haven’t commented. But whispers suggest voting irregularities are under internal review. Even Derek Hough’s wife, former pro dancer Hayley Erbert Hough, hinted at "unusual patterns" in her exclusive November 18 article for People.

This isn’t just about one couple’s heartbreak. It’s about whether a show built on dance excellence still values artistry — or if it’s become a popularity contest in tuxedos and sequins.