Whitney Leavitt Eliminated From 'Dancing With The Stars', Fans Slam Carrie Ann Inaba For Low Score

Dancing with the Stars Season 38 just completed its semi-finals on November 18, 2025. As the show heads towards its much-awaited grand finale, another beloved contestant got eliminated. The participant who had to bid farewell to her dreams of winning the mirrorball trophy was the American reality television star, Whitney Leavitt. Whitney and her pro partner, Mark Ballas' elimination came as a major shock to the viewers. The supporters of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star slammed the judges, particularly Carrie Ann Inaba, alleging that she was partial towards Whitney, which led to the latter's unfair eviction.

Whitney Leavitt's elimination drew backlash from her fans for judge, Carrie Ann Inaba

Whitney Leavitt and her pro partner, Mark Ballas, were eliminated in the semi-finals of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) Season 34 in a shocking twist. The pair received the lowest combined scores from judges and viewers on Prince Night. The eviction led to backlash from her fans, with their primary target being judge, Carrie Ann Inaba. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas consistently received decent scores on DWTS, if not high ones. Thus, their low scores, which led to their elimination, were shocking to viewers who expected them to reach the finale. It is worth noting that Inaba is known for her consistent scoring throughout the season, particularly compared to other judges.

While Inaba called Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas' Viennese waltz performance her 'absolute favourite' among Leavitt's acts this season, she deducted a point, saying that there were two 'hops' in their dance routine. Fans were particularly confused by Inaba's comment, which sparked backlash against her. Due to the one-point docking, Leavitt scored a total of 29/30, as the other judges, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, gave her perfect 10s. Although many slammed the judge for giving Inaba nine points, some defended her, highlighting a vital aspect of the show's format.

Elimination of contestants in DWTS is determined by a combination of the judges' scores and viewer votes. Hence, some fans claimed that placing the blame for Whitney Leavitt's eviction entirely on Inaba wasn't fair. Although the result was surprising, and many were extremely unhappy to see their favourite contestant leave, a large group of the audience had not voted for her, making Inaba's one-point deduction one of the deciding factors in Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas' elimination.

Whitney Leavitt's first reaction after elimination from Dancing with the Stars

After the thrilling semi-final of Dancing with the Stars, the recently eliminated pair, Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, engaged in a candid chat with Entertainment Tonight's Denny Directo. Reflecting on her DWTS journey, she said it felt 'unattainable' earlier. She was grateful to have made it to the semi-finals, and the little kid in her was elated to be part of the show. She mentioned:

"I didn't even think I was going to make it this far, like every single week I would talk to Mark [Ballas] and be like 'I don't know, tonight might be the night, but I am happy with what we have done so far.' So I am so grateful, I don't know what that is, maybe it's the little kid in me who has all these dreams and felt unattainable, but now they feel within reach."

Whitney Leavitt also thanked her husband, Conner Leavitt, for his constant support throughout the show. According to her, their relationship grew stronger as they navigated DWTS preparation. She also lauded how well Conner did his dad duties and said:

"It brought us so much closer, like I will forever be so grateful I feel like he really picked up..I shouldn't say slack, but I wasn't at home, so he was a stay at home dad, keeping the house clean, attending to the kids. Like I have a baby who still keeps getting up in the night, like he gets up with the baby. I wouldn't have been able to do this without him."

What are your thoughts on Whitney Leavitt's elimination from Dancing with the Stars ahead of the finale? Let us know.

Also Read: 'DWTS', Whitney Leavitt's Controversies, Lavender Marriage Rumours, TikTok Dance Next To Sick Infant

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