Why Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas Knew Their DWTS Elimination Was Coming Long Before the Results Were Read

If you’ve watched Dancing With the Stars long enough, you know the ballroom has its own heartbeat. Some nights, the energy feels electric—full of possibility. Other nights, there’s a strange quiet, like a storm you can sense before you see it.

For Whitney Leavitt and her pro partner Mark Ballas, that storm hit on Nov. 18 during the Prince-themed semifinals. But here’s the plot twist:

They felt it coming long before the elimination lights dimmed, the audience held their breath, or the announcer stretched out those agonizing final seconds.

This is the story of why one of season 34’s strongest couples—consistent high scorers, fan favorites, and undeniable performers—walked into the semifinals already knowing their time in the ballroom was winding down.

And it’s a story full of intuition, resilience, heartbreak… and grateful goodbyes.

The Moment Before the Moment: A Feeling They Couldn’t Shake

When Mark Ballas spoke to E! News after filming wrapped, he didn’t sugarcoat the truth:

“We knew. We felt it. There was just this feeling.”

For a man who’s spent years performing live, reading rooms, and sensing audiences the way a sailor reads wind patterns, that intuition carries weight. Whitney felt it too, describing it in the way only someone who has lived inside a competition can:

“We had a gut feeling it was us.”

If you’ve ever stood backstage before a major life-changing moment—an exam, an audition, a promotion—you know that gut feeling. It’s not fear. It’s not certainty. It’s more like your soul tapping you on the shoulder saying:

“Brace yourself.”

That was the atmosphere Whitney and Mark walked into.

Dancing Through the Highs—Even When the End Felt Near

Let’s be clear: their elimination was not because of performance. Week after week, they delivered routines packed with precision, charisma, and passion. Their scores consistently placed them in the upper tier of the leaderboard. Fans and judges alike praised Whitney’s growth and Mark’s masterful choreography.

But competition shows—especially ones with audience voting—are a blend of skill, momentum, luck, and storyline timing. Some weeks, even perfect dancers get swept up in the tide.

Whitney knew this. And as she later shared, knowing doesn’t make it hurt any less.

“It Feels Like a Breakup”: Whitney on the Emotional Fallout

After the results were announced, Whitney opened up about the emotional whiplash that comes with suddenly stepping off a journey you’ve lived, breathed, and poured yourself into every single day.

“It’s sad,” she said honestly. “It feels like a breakup.”

And truly—DWTS is its own kind of relationship.

You rehearse daily.

You sweat.

You laugh.

You push yourself physically and mentally.

You build friendships with crew, production teams, fellow dancers, and of course, your partner.

The ballroom becomes a second home. The people become a second family.

So when elimination comes—even expected elimination—it isn’t just the end of a routine.

It’s the end of a world.

Yet even in her sadness, Whitney’s voice held gratitude:

“I’m leaving with a grateful heart. Just being able to experience this… it’s everything.”

That gratitude is what separates heartbreak from bitterness. It’s the mark of someone who came for transformation, not just trophies.

Giving Everything—Even When You Know You Can’t Control the Outcome

Whitney also shared something every competitor understands far too well:

“I wanted to give it my all every single dance… but some things are out of your control.”

If DWTS teaches contestants anything, it’s that control is an illusion. You can control your effort, your attitude, your artistry. You cannot control public votes, narrative arcs, or fate’s strange sense of timing.

But Whitney didn’t walk away feeling defeated. She walked away knowing she poured everything she had into the experience—and that is a rare kind of victory.

The Emotional Onstage Goodbye

When the elimination was announced—solidifying finalists Robert Irwin & Witney Carson, Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa, Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten, and Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy—Whitney delivered a heartfelt farewell onstage:

“I already feel like a winner. This show has meant the world to me. It’s changed my life. I’ll forever be grateful for this experience.”

These were not just lines. They sounded like someone who had walked into the ballroom searching for something deeper—growth, confidence, challenge—and found it.

Mark, returning to the ballroom for the first time after several years away, echoed that sentiment:

“I had the best time. I love this show.”

For long-time fans, it was a full-circle moment: the return of a beloved pro, guiding a partner who arrived ready to shine.

A Season of Transformation—Not Just for Whitney

Whitney wasn’t the only celeb deeply changed by the show this season.

Andy Richter—who was eliminated one week earlier with partner Emma Slater—shared his own emotional transformation:

“It’s changed my life. I’m a different person because of this show and because of Emma.”

DWTS has always been about more than swivels, salsas, and sequins. It’s about self-discovery. Vulnerability. Stretching comfort zones.

It’s about becoming someone new in front of millions of viewers.

For Andy, that transformation was personal and profound.

For Whitney, it was the discovery of inner strength she didn’t know she had.

For Mark, it was the joy of returning to a craft he loves deeply.

And for fans, it was watching real human growth unfold one dance at a time.

Why Fans Are Still Talking About Whitney & Mark’s Exit

Eliminations during semifinals always sting—they’re so close to the finish line you can practically hear the Mirrorball glittering.

But Whitney and Mark’s exit stood out for three reasons:

1. They had consistently strong scores

This wasn't a couple struggling at the bottom. They were front-runners.

2. Their partnership was authentic

Viewers love authenticity—and Whitney and Mark radiated it, both in the rehearsal room and onstage.

3. Their emotional transparency resonated

They didn’t hide their sadness, their gratitude, or their intuition.

They let viewers feel it with them.

The result? Fans rallied. Social media lit up. Viewers praised Whitney’s journey with comments like:

“She’s a star already.”

“They deserved the finale.”

“This elimination hurt more than my last breakup.”

DWTS eliminations have a way of sparking passionate reactions—this one was no exception.

A Look at the Season 34 Cast: A Ballroom Full of Big Personalities

From athletes to influencers to actors to reality stars, season 34 was a vibrant mix of talent and storytelling. The cast included:

Baron Davis (with Britt Stewart)

Jennifer Affleck (with Jan Ravnik)

Alix Earle (with Val Chmerkovskiy)

Dylan Efron (with Daniella Karagach)

Corey Feldman (with Jenna Johnson)

Elaine Hendrix (with Alan Bersten)

Robert Irwin (with Witney Carson)

Jordan Chiles (with Ezra Sosa)

Scott Hoying (with Rylee Arnold)

Whitney Leavitt (with Mark Ballas)

Hilaria Baldwin (with Gleb Savchenko)

Andy Richter (with Emma Slater)

Danielle Fishel (with Pasha Pashkov)**

It was one of the most diverse, dynamic lineups in years—full of humor, heart, and unforgettable routines.

What Whitney’s Journey Teaches Us About Intuition, Effort & Letting Go

Whitney Leavitt walked into DWTS with dance experience, but not ballroom experience. She walked out with:

A deeper sense of self

A lifelong friendship with Mark

A new army of fans

And a reminder that giving your all is the real trophy

Her journey is a lesson for anyone facing a crossroads:

Sometimes you see the ending before it arrives.

Sometimes you feel the shift before the moment.

But intuition doesn’t make the journey any less magical.

Whitney and Mark may have left the competition, but they didn’t leave empty-handed.

Far from it.

Final Thought: Losing Isn’t Always Losing

Here’s the truth people often forget about DWTS:

Not winning the Mirrorball doesn’t mean losing.

Some contestants walk away with new careers.

Some walk away with confidence they never had before.

Some walk away transformed in ways that outshine any trophy.

Whitney Leavitt walked away knowing one thing with absolute certainty:

She showed up.

She gave everything.

And she danced her heart out.

Mirrorball or no Mirrorball—

that’s a victory.