Whitney Leavitt opens up after shocking Dancing With The Stars elimination, comparing the devastating end to her journey to a breakup. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star shared raw, tearful reflections on leaving the competition she’d dominated for weeks, revealing an unexpected emotional toll that surprised even her.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Whitney Leavitt eliminated November 18 during DWTS Season 34 semifinals on Prince Night episode
- She topped the leaderboard 7 times with an average score of 26.9, the highest among all contestants
- Partner Mark Ballas, a professional dancer with championship experience, worked closely with her throughout the competition
- Fan voting determined her elimination despite high judge scores, after controversy about her prior dance experience
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On November 18, 2025, during the Prince-themed semifinals episode, Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas faced sudden elimination despite their impressive track record. They scored 58 out of 60 on the night, tying for second place on the leaderboard with Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy.
The elimination stunned fans and critics alike. Throughout the season, Leavitt had shown remarkable growth and technical skill, dominating the competition week after week. Yet the fan vote ultimately decided her fate, sending her home before the finale while five other couples advanced to compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
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Days after her elimination, Whitney Leavitt posted a truthful and vulnerable video on social media where she broke down in tears reflecting on her departure. She opened up about the unexpected emotional impact of leaving the show that had consumed her life for weeks.
“When you’re casted on Dancing with the Stars, you are seeing these people hours every single day,” she explained through tears. “Then it just stops. It genuinely feels like a breakup. It feels like I’m going through withdrawals right now.”
She described waking up without her daily rehearsal schedule with Mark Ballas as deeply unsettling. “Today just felt so weird,” Whitney continued. “It felt so weird not going into the studio and meeting with Mark and learning a dance. It just felt weird, and it made me sad.”
The Unexpected Friendships and Emotional Connections
| Competition Details | Information |
| Professional Partner | Mark Ballas (Age 39, multiple competition titles) |
| Average Judge Score | 26.9 out of 30 (highest in competition) |
| Leaderboard Tops | 7 times during Season 34 |
| Elimination Method | Fan vote (despite second-place judges score) |
Beyond the competition itself, Whitney discovered something unexpected during her time on DWTS. The bonds she formed with her professional partner Mark Ballas and other cast members proved to be the most meaningful part of her experience.
“You grow real friendships and real connections with these people,” she shared. “You learn so much about yourself and people uplift you constantly. You challenge yourself and you just feel so loved. The one thing I’ve loved the most, that I wasn’t expecting, was getting a lifelong friend.”
Why Whitney’s Elimination Sparked Controversy
Whitney’s exit came amid growing fan debate about her participation on the show. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star had faced backlash after revealing in a recent episode of her Hulu series that she only rejoined MomTok to audition for Dancing with the Stars.
“After last season, I did decide to step away from the show, but I never quit MomTok,” she explained in her confessional. “I just really needed a break, but then I heard from my team Dancing with the Stars was going to cast someone from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and that’s a motivation. I’ll come back for that.”
This revelation led to divided opinions among viewers about whether her motivation diminished the integrity of her competition. Additionally, some fans criticized her prior dance experience, which gave her an advantage over celebrities without formal training. Despite her incredible performances and scores, the combination of these factors appeared to influence the fan voting.
Who Will Compete in the Dancing With the Stars Finale?
Whitney’s elimination cleared the path for five finalists to advance to the November 25 season finale. The remaining competitors are Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, and Robert Irwin and Witney Carson.
The three-hour finale is airing on Tuesday, November 25 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC with live streaming available on Disney+. One couple will win the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy and the title of Dancing With the Stars champion.
“It’s so important to surround yourself with people who believe in you, who want to see you achieve your delusional dreams. Mark is that friend to me. I will forever be so grateful for that friendship.”
— Whitney Leavitt, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Star
Watch: Whitney Leavitt’s Emotional Elimination Interview
Sources
- USA Today – Coverage of Whitney Leavitt’s controversial elimination and her emotional response
- Cosmopolitan – Detailed account of her tearful video interview about her DWTS experience
- Page Six – Whitney’s comparison of her elimination to a breakup and reflections on her time competing
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.