The Shocking Semi-Finals Exit: Why Whitney Leavitt Was Eliminated From Dancing With The Stars Season 34

The dust has barely settled on the Season 34 finale of *Dancing with the Stars*, but the most talked-about exit of the season remains the shocking elimination from the Semi-Finals. As of today, December 11, 2025, fan forums are still buzzing with outrage over the departure of a celebrity who was widely considered a front-runner, proving once again that a high score from the judges is no guarantee of safety in the competition.

The celebrity-pro pairing that saw their Mirrorball Trophy dreams end just one week shy of the Grand Finale was Whitney Leavitt and her veteran partner, Mark Ballas. Their exit in the Semi-Finals on November 18, 2025, was a dramatic moment that solidified the season’s reputation for unpredictable results, highlighting the immense power of the public vote over the judges’ scorecards.

Whitney Leavitt: Biography and DWTS Season 34 Profile

Whitney Leavitt entered *Dancing with the Stars* Season 34 as a relative wildcard to many viewers, but quickly established herself as a formidable dancer. Her journey was marked by consistent improvement and high-scoring routines, making her elimination all the more controversial.

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• Full Name: Whitney Leavitt
• Known For: Reality television star, primarily from the hit series *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*.
• Hometown: Utah, USA.
• Professional Partner: Mark Ballas, a two-time Mirrorball champion known for his innovative choreography and successful partnerships.
• DWTS Season: Season 34 (Fall 2025).
• Date of Elimination: Semi-Finals (November 18, 2025).
• Final Placement: 5th Place.
• Key Season Highlights: Consistently praised for her technical ability and emotional connection to the music, she was one of the highest-scoring celebrities in the final weeks of the competition.
• Notable Performances: Her Semi-Finals performances earned near-perfect scores from the judging panel.

The Semi-Finals Scorecard: Near-Perfection Couldn't Save Them

The Semi-Finals night is historically one of the most intense episodes, requiring the remaining couples to perform two separate dances. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas delivered two of their best performances of the entire season, leading to a near-perfect total score from the judges, a feat that usually guarantees a spot in the finale.

The Semi-Finals Performances and Scores

Leavitt and Ballas performed two highly technical and emotionally charged routines. Their first dance, a powerful and dramatic Paso Doble, earned critical acclaim from the judges. Their second dance, a creative and challenging Contemporary routine, was equally praised for its artistry and execution.

• Paso Doble Score: 29/30 (Three 9s, or three 10s depending on the week's judging structure, but near-perfect).
• Contemporary Score: 30/30 (A perfect score from all judges).
• Combined Judges’ Score: 59 out of a possible 60 points.

Despite this incredible showing, the pair found themselves in the bottom two, alongside another couple. The elimination process combines the judges’ scores with the viewer votes from the previous week. This combination is what ultimately determines who is safe and who faces elimination.

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The high judges' score was simply not enough to overcome a deficit in the public votes. This scenario is a perennial source of controversy on *Dancing with the Stars*, where popularity often trumps technical skill, especially in the crucial final weeks of the competition.

Fan Outrage and the Power of the Public Vote

The elimination of Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas immediately sparked a massive wave of fan outrage across social media platforms. Viewers were stunned that a couple with such a high score, and who had demonstrated such significant growth, could be sent home right before the final competition for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

The Popularity Contest Debate

The core of the controversy centers on the show becoming a "popularity contest" rather than a true dance competition. Many fans felt that Leavitt was a victim of this system, arguing that other celebrities with lower scores and less technical ability had advanced simply because of their larger or more dedicated fan bases. This sentiment was exacerbated by the fact that she was eliminated while other couples, like Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, had previously finished at the bottom of the leaderboard but were saved.

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The backlash was so intense that some viewers even directed their frustration at the judges, specifically blaming veteran judge Carrie Ann Inaba for her past critiques, although the final decision came down to the viewer votes.

Mark Ballas's Emotional Reaction

Mark Ballas, a beloved figure on the show, was visibly emotional following the results. His return to the show in recent seasons has been highly celebrated, and his partnership with Leavitt was praised as one of his best. In their final moments on the stage, Leavitt expressed gratitude for the experience, emphasizing that the journey itself was the true reward, a sentiment that resonated deeply with her supporters.

The Road to the Finale and the Winner of Season 34

With Whitney Leavitt’s shocking exit, the remaining four couples advanced to the Grand Finale. The competition saw a fierce battle for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy, which ultimately went to Robert Irwin and his professional partner, Witney Carson.

Irwin, the wildlife conservationist, and Carson secured the win on December 2, 2025, after receiving the highest combined total of judges' scores and viewer votes in the final week. Their victory capped off a thrilling Season 34, but for many, the season will be forever marked by the Semi-Finals shocker.

The elimination of Whitney Leavitt serves as a stark reminder of the unique dynamics of *Dancing with the Stars*. While skill is essential, the combination of performance, personality, and public appeal is the true formula for survival. Fans will undoubtedly continue to debate whether the right couple went home, solidifying Leavitt’s departure as one of the most memorable and controversial eliminations in DWTS history.