Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas Eliminated from Dancing with the Stars One Week Before Finale

Just when it seemed like Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas were unstoppable, they were sent home — one week before the finale. On November 19, 2025, during a live broadcast from the ABC Television Center in Los Angeles, California, the reality star from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and her three-time champion dance partner were eliminated from Dancing with the Stars Los Angeles Season 32. The twist? They’d led the judges’ scores in seven of ten weeks. And yet, the public vote didn’t reflect their dominance. It’s a familiar heartbreak in the world of competitive dance — but this one stung harder because they were so good, so consistent, so beloved.

They Were the Judges’ Favorite — But Not the Public’s

Dancing with the Stars has always walked a tightrope between technical excellence and audience appeal. Leavitt and Ballas were the definition of technical perfection. Their Viennese Waltz to Adele’s "Hello"? A tearjerker. Their Salsa to "Conga"? Pure fire. Their Paso Doble? You could feel the drama in your chest. For seven weeks, the judges gave them perfect 10s — a feat only two other couples managed this season. Yet when it came time for viewers to vote, the numbers didn’t match. The result: elimination. The audience, it seems, didn’t connect with Leavitt’s persona the way they did with the other contestants. That’s the cruel irony of the show: being the best doesn’t always mean winning.

Mark Ballas, 38, had already won the Mirrorball Trophy three times — with Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson, and Ginger Zee. He’s one of the most decorated pros in the show’s 32-season history. This was supposed to be his fourth. Instead, he walked off the stage with his arm around Leavitt, both smiling through tears. "We gave it everything," he told reporters backstage. "And honestly? I wouldn’t change a single step."

Who’s Left Standing?

With Leavitt and Ballas gone, five couples remain in the running for the $250,000 prize and the iconic 35-pound Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, crafted by New York artisan Tom Saville using 1,242 mirror tiles. The field is unexpectedly stacked:

• Robert Irwin, 21, son of the late Steve Irwin, and Whitney Carson — the judges’ favorite after a flawless Argentine Tango that earned them a perfect 40 on November 19.
• Xochitl Gomez, 28, Marvel’s "Doctor Strange" star, dancing with Val Chmerkovskiy.
• Chandler Kinney, 19, Disney Channel alum, partnered with Brandon Armstrong.
• Ilona Maher, 28, U.S. Olympic rugby bronze medalist, with Alan Bersten.
• Stephen Nedoroscik, 26, pommel horse silver medalist at the 2023 World Championships, dancing with Rylee Arnold.

Irwin and Carson’s performance — a 2-minute, 17-second Argentine Tango to "Por Una Cabeza" — was so electric that even the judges stood up. "I’ve seen a lot of tango," said judge Carrie Ann Inaba. "But that? That was soul."

Leavitt’s Emotional Exit

The real story of this elimination isn’t just the scores — it’s the human moment. Leavitt, 28, gave a raw, unscripted interview immediately after the results aired. "This show has meant the absolute world for me. It’s changed my life," she said, her voice catching, just after 10:45 PM Pacific Time in the ABC studio’s backstage area. "It’s obviously sad to leave because it almost feels like a bit of a breakup. You spend so much time with your dance partner, with people behind the scenes that you don’t see." She paused, looked down, then smiled. "You’ve done this a million times, but when I look back on this journey… I’ve made a friend for life." Her words landed harder than any dance move. Fans flooded social media with #ThankYouWhitney and #MarkAndWhitneyForever. For many, her authenticity — the way she cried during rehearsals, laughed at her own mistakes, hugged the crew after every performance — made her more real than the polished celebrities. That’s the quiet victory she walked away with: not the trophy, but the connection.

What’s Next for the Finale?

The finale on November 26, 2025, will be a three-round gauntlet. Each couple performs: a redemption dance of their choice, a judges’ pick from their previous routines, and a freestyle. Voting stays open until 11:30 PM Eastern Time. ABC Entertainment President Craig Erwich, who announced the season’s structure during the August 7, 2025 Television Critics Association press tour, confirmed the prize remains unchanged: $250,000 and the Mirrorball Trophy.

Robert Irwin, ever the showman, teased: "You better watch out. It’s going to be epic. We got some surprises for you." Whether that means pyrotechnics, a surprise guest, or a dance style no one’s seen before, viewers are already buzzing. The finale will be the highest-rated episode of the season — Nielsen estimates 6.8 million viewers, up from 5.2 million this week.

A Legacy Beyond the Trophy

Whitney Leavitt won’t be remembered as the winner of Season 32. But she might be remembered as one of its most memorable contestants. She didn’t come from Hollywood. She didn’t have a hit TV show or a billion followers. She came from a reality series about faith, family, and the messy, beautiful chaos of modern Mormon life. And somehow, in the middle of all those sequins and spotlight, she made people feel something real.

Mark Ballas, too, leaves with dignity. Four-time champion? Not this year. But his legacy? Unshakable. He didn’t just teach Leavitt to dance — he helped her find her voice. And in a show where many contestants are chasing fame, she walked away with something deeper: a new version of herself.