Week Three of “Dancing with the Stars” sent home one shocking star, with Week Four following with a united front from viewers as they chose the next couple to leave the ballroom. While some stars got underscored, others rose to the top.
Week Three brought a TikTok theme to the ballroom. Fitting, as the show owes credit to TikTok for much of its rebirth.
TikTok star and season 31 winner Charli D’Amelio joined the troupe for a short opening number to the viral TikTok sound “Apple,” complete with the matching TikTok dance.
Star Alix Earle joined acclaimed choreographer Molly Long in rehearsal to learn the viral “Pop Muzik” dance, which she used to open her quick step with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. The pair received a score of 23/30. Although Earle has a huge social media following, which has helped her stay on the show, she has also proven to viewers she is a strong competitor.
Gymnast Jordan Chiles shook up the ballroom with a tango to “Anxiety.” The dance left Chiles teary-eyed as she reflected on her own experience with anxiety and wowed judges, with Bruno Tonioli calling this her best dance yet. She found herself at the top of the leaderboard with a score of 24 out of 30.
Alongside Chiles, frontrunner Whitney Leavitt also rose to the top for her funky samba to “Shake Ya Ass.” The dance featured a strange adaptation from “DWTS” production, as part of the dance was made to look like a TikTok video on screen, complete with comments and likes.
Leavitt and partner Mark Ballas have been running the leaderboard this season, and they not only have the judges' approval, but also the fan votes.
Their samba has gained 7.2 million views on TikTok since Week Three aired, and now many viewers are recreating it themselves, as they discuss how addictive Leavitt’s performance and stage quality are. Her stage presence and Ballas’ choreography have created a force to be reckoned with.
Most notably, Week Three sent ex-Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui home. Jauregui was joined by four of her former “Fifth Harmony” band members in the audience as she danced a cha cha to her song, “Work from Home.” She earned an 18 out of 30 for her dance with partner Brandon Armstrong.
When asked how she was feeling about the elimination, she responded: “Pissed.” Her partner Armstrong has now tattooed this onto his body, mimicking pro Ezra Sosa’s tattoo dedicated to partner Anna Delvey, who last season said she would take “nothing” from the show.
Stars and pros alike were shocked at the elimination, as Jauregi had been at the top of the leaderboard weeks prior.
Week Four brought the coveted Disney night to the ballroom. Pros joined Disney character Lumiere for the opening number to “Be Our Guest.” Rehearsal packages of the couples showed them enjoying Disneyland with each other, adding a spark of joy and magic to the night.
Beloved actor Andy Richter found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard, yet survived another week on the show, mainly due to fan votes and his adorable partnership with sweetheart pro Emma Slater.
Robert Irwin earned a 22/30 for his “Zootopia” themed cha cha, which was filled with smiles and joy, but lacked the innovative movement the couple had shown weeks prior. Three stars tied in third with scores of 23/30: Hilaria Baldwin’s “Star Wars” quickstep, Jen Affleck rose from last week with her “Aladdin” themed jazz number and Dylan Efron rounded out third place for his quickstep to “Life is a Highway.”
Three more stars tied for second place. Earle earned a 24/30 for her inventive “Sleeping Beauty” Viennese Waltz, which the judges called her best dance yet. Elaine Bersten continued to show out and performed an incredible quickstep. Olympian Jordan Chiles continued her streak at the top with a fun “Princess and the Frog” themed quickstep.
At the top of the leaderboard, earning the first nine of the season, Leavitt and Ballas stole judges' hearts, with Carrie Ann Inaba complimenting Ballas’ foxtrot choreography as standing above the rest.
Ultimately, the magical night did send one star packing: Baldwin. The star shared teary reactions to the elimination and shock as she landed in the middle of the pack with this week's scores.
To decide eliminations, the show takes 50 percent of viewers’ votes and 50 percent of judges' scores to send one star home. Host Alfonso Riberio announced the show surpassed 40 million votes during Week Four, meaning fans' negative opinions on Baldwin ultimately sent her packing.
Next week, the remaining stars will participate in the beloved “Dedication Night,” where they will dedicate a dance to one person who will join them in the ballroom.
“Boy Meets World” alum Danielle Fishel has already announced she will be dedicating her dance to Mr. Feeny actor William Daniels, and Dylan Efron teased a very special surprise for next week, with fans hoping he will be joined by his brother Zac Efron.
