In a candid conversation on the popular podcast Call Her Daddy, Whitney Leavitt and her Dancing With the Stars partner Mark Ballas opened up about their unexpected elimination from season 34 of the long-running ABC competition series. The duo, who had been considered frontrunners throughout the season, were sent home during the semifinals on November 18, leaving fans stunned as they watched five other couples advance to the finale held on November 25. Leavitt, a 32-year-old star from the reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and Ballas, a 39-year-old professional dancer with multiple wins under his belt, shared their emotions and behind-the-scenes insights during the November 26 episode hosted by Alex Cooper.
The elimination came as a shock to many viewers, given the pair's strong performances and high scores leading up to that point. According to Ballas, he had a gut feeling about the outcome even before the results were announced. "I think that day, we kind of had a gut feeling to be honest," Ballas told Cooper, recalling how he encouraged Leavitt to simply enjoy their final performance. "Let’s just go out. Let’s enjoy ourselves. Let’s have fun. Go for it. Like, let your hair down. Enjoy this." Despite the premonition, the pair delivered what they believed were solid routines, including a Viennese waltz that Leavitt later described as one of her favorites.
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars featured a diverse cast of celebrities paired with professional dancers, competing weekly in elaborate ballroom and contemporary routines judged by a panel including Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. Leavitt and Ballas had consistently impressed with their chemistry and technical skill, earning praise for dances that blended Leavitt's newcomer enthusiasm with Ballas's seasoned expertise. Their semifinal night, however, ended with them receiving a combined score of 58 out of 60 for their two performances—a near-perfect mark that placed them among the highest scorers of the evening. Yet, viewer votes ultimately did not favor them, sending them packing while couples like Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, and Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach advanced.
Irwin, the 21-year-old Australian wildlife conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin, and Carson ultimately claimed the coveted Mirrorball Trophy on November 25, marking a fairy-tale ending to the season amid a field of high-profile contestants. Leavitt and Ballas's exit highlighted the unpredictable nature of the show, where audience votes can sway outcomes despite judges' scores. Ballas reflected on this dynamic during the podcast, noting his strategy of always pushing for peak performance. "My strategy is always, ‘Do your f***ing best,'" he said. "Come out swinging. Do the best you can. Because the reality is, I’m gonna tell you right now: This is not the first time that someone who is an amazing, incredible, dynamic performer has been eliminated early."
Ballas drew from his own history on the show, referencing his experience in season 5 with partner Sabrina Bryan, who was eliminated early despite strong showings. He attributed some of the surprise in their case to the modern influence of social media. "It happened to me in season 5 with Sabrina Bryan. But this is the first time I feel like it’s happened with this new TikTok, Instagram hype," Ballas explained, suggesting that online buzz might not always translate to votes. Leavitt echoed the sentiment about their final dances, saying, "I felt our dances were solid. Like, that Viennese waltz that we did was one of my favorite dances that we’ve done. It just felt off. It didn’t feel like the other Tuesdays that we had had."
Behind the glamour of the stage, the preparation was intense. Ballas described himself as an "over rehearser," trained in a traditional style where repetition ensures flawless execution. "I like to rehearse to the point where it’s just so ingrained in your body. I hate leaving things to chance. Might be old-school, but that’s how I was raised when I was dancing," he said. On semifinal night, between their first and second dances, the pair ran through their routines backstage. It was then that Ballas noticed Leavitt becoming emotional, prompting him to shift into what he called "football-coach mode." "You can do this!" he urged her, worried that she might "black out" under the pressure.
Leavitt admitted to having an ominous premonition herself. "I had a feeling like this was our last dance, which in turn, made it a little bit more emotional," she shared. Cooper pointed out their high scores, questioning why the votes didn't follow. Leavitt speculated that her background from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives might have played a role. "I don’t know," she said. "I mean, if I was speculating, I’d say, ‘Yeah, maybe ‘Secret Lives.’ Because it was such a huge divide. Like, you either really loved me for that, or you really hated me for that. So, maybe it swayed some people." The show, which premiered earlier in 2024 on Hulu, follows a group of Mormon influencers navigating personal scandals and friendships, earning Leavitt a polarized fanbase.
Ballas took a broader view, acknowledging the talent across the board. "Sometimes this s***t happens … with such a stacked cast and really great talent. Great talent, all-around," he said. Their elimination wasn't without controversy; earlier in the season, Leavitt and Ballas faced backlash over a giveaway promotion tied to the show, which some fans accused of being mishandled. Though they addressed it publicly, the incident added to the scrutiny surrounding their run. Despite the hurdles, both emphasized the positive aspects of their journey.
In the days following their exit, Leavitt shared her raw feelings on TikTok in a video posted on November 20. "I am just gonna speak from the heart and share what I’m feeling. I share the good, I share the bad, I share the ugly, so I’m just gonna keep doing that," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. She compared the sudden end to the grueling schedule to a breakup, describing intense withdrawals. "When you’re cast on Dancing With the Stars, you are seeing these people [for] hours every single day. Then it just stops. It genuinely feels like a breakup. It feels like I’m going through withdrawals right now."
The void was palpable, Leavitt continued. "Today just felt so weird. 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," she added, visibly upset in the clip. Yet, amid the sadness, she highlighted the silver lining: the deep friendship forged with Ballas. "It’s so important to surround yourself with people who believe in you, who want to see you achieve your delusional dreams, as cheesy as that sounds," Leavitt said through tears. "Mark is that friend to me. I will forever be so grateful for that friendship."
While Leavitt insisted that she “loved every bit of” her Dancing With the Stars experience, she noted, “The one thing that I have loved the most that I wasn’t expecting was getting a lifelong friend.”
Ballas expressed similar gratitude in a post-elimination interview on Good Morning America, aired shortly after their departure. "We’ve had a great time and had some really fun moments on this show. And that’s what it’s all about," he said. "And yes, it sucks to fall at the last hurdle, but you have a stacked finale. Great couples. It’s gonna be an amazing show next week. And I made a friend for life. It’s not the end, you know? But this happens sometimes. It’s OK." His words underscored the show's ethos of resilience and camaraderie, even in defeat.
The broader context of Dancing With the Stars eliminations reveals a pattern of surprises over its 34 seasons. Past shocks include early exits of fan favorites like Bryan in season 5 and others who dominated the leaderboard but faltered in public voting. This season's cast, blending influencers, athletes, and actors, amplified the competition's intensity, with social media playing an outsized role in building hype. Leavitt's rise from Mormon Wives to DWTS contestant exemplified how reality TV stars are increasingly crossing into mainstream entertainment, though it also exposed divides in audience appeal.
Looking ahead, Leavitt plans to leverage her DWTS experience to grow her brand, potentially returning to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for future seasons. Ballas, who has stepped away from the pro circuit in recent years to focus on family and other projects, hinted at possible future involvement with the show. Their story serves as a reminder of the emotional toll and rewards of high-stakes competition, where bonds formed under pressure can outlast the spotlight. As the dust settles on season 34, fans continue to celebrate the duo's contributions, with many expressing disappointment over their exit on social platforms.
Ultimately, Leavitt and Ballas's reflections paint a picture of growth amid heartbreak. Their podcast appearance not only provided closure but also humanized the glamour of Dancing With the Stars, showing the vulnerability behind the sequins and scores. With the finale's excitement still fresh, their narrative adds depth to a season remembered for its talent and twists.