It's been an emotional roller coaster forWhitney Leavitt. The social-media-influencer-turned-reality-TV-star was shockingly eliminated fromDancing With the Starson Tuesday night, just one week shy of making the finale. Whitney stans were stunned she didn't make it through alongside her partnerMark Ballas, especially after the duo delivered two strong performances. And judging by her total social-media silence on Wednesday, it seems like Whit was feeling the shock too — even though she hinted on Tuesday's episode that she had a "gut feeling" her name might be the one called.
That silence broke on Thursday, when the mom of three returned to social media with an emotional, unfiltered video detailing how the sudden end to herDWTSchapter has hit her. Her voice cracked almost immediately. "I'm just going to speak from the heart," she began. "I share the good, I share the bad, I share the ugly — so I'm just going to keep doing that."
From there, Whitney spoke openly about the whiplash of going from spending "hours every single day" with her castmates and crew to suddenly … not. "Then, it just stops," she said, explaining that walking away from the ballroom has left her surprisingly heartbroken. "It genuinely feels like a breakup. It feels like I'm going through withdrawals right now. 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."
'You Grow Real Friendships': Whitney Reflects on the DWTS Bubble
At its core, Whitney's video was a love letter — to her castmates, to Mark Ballas, and to the supportive environment she says changed her for the better. "You grow real friendships and real connections with these people, and you learn so much about yourself," she continued. "People uplift you constantly, and you challenge yourself. You just feel so loved."
She also took a moment to reflect on how crucial a strong support system can be when you're putting yourself out there in such a vulnerable way. "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," she said.
In addition to having the support of her doting husbandConner Leavitt(who showed up every weekin costumeto cheer his lady on), she specifically thanked Mark in her video for becoming a lifelong friend through this process.
And just to be absolutely clear: There'szerobad blood between Whitney and the show. She signed off her message with pure gratitude. "I'm just so grateful. I love you guys, and… I f---ing love this show."
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Fans Rally Behind Whitney After Her Exit
Whitney's elimination came after she and Ballas performed a cha-cha-cha to Prince's "1999" and a Viennese waltz to "Slow Love," each earning an impressive 29 out of 30. But when the votes were tallied, it wasn't enough to push them into the finale — a result that many viewers are still fuming about.
Her comments section quickly filled with love from friends, fellow creators, and fans who areverymuch not over it. Her husband Conner wrote that he was "so incredibly happy that you got this experience and walked away with genuine friendships," while professional dancerWitney Carsontold her, "Love you 😭 you're an absolute star."
Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesco-starsLayla TaylorandMiranda McWhorterechoed the sentiment, with Layla saying, "Whit 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 you should be so proud," and Miranda adding, "I can't wait to see what you do next, Whit. So proud of you, love you sm💕🫶🏼." Another co-star, Mayci Neeley also added, "So proud of you, you absolutely crushed it."
Even Pentatonix star and DWTS cast-mateScott Hoyingjumped in with, "You are SUCH a star!!!! love you!!!"
Fans were equally passionate in their reactions — and subtle they were not. Many insisted she had been "robbed," with several commenting that she was "the best dancer on the show" and urging her to "ignore the hate." One wrote, "Next stop: BROADWAY," while another confessed, "I've been so distraught since Tuesday," and someone else admitted they "genuinely haven't stopped crying over this robbery."
Other supporters reminded her how much joy she brought to the ballroom, telling her, "You did an incredible job, so proud of you," and "The floor isn't going to shine as bright without you and Mark next week." One fan even encouraged her to keep the magic going by suggesting, "Do your own freestyle with Mark and post it on YouTube!" And perhaps the most heartfelt of all: "YOU MADE ME WATCH DWTS💕 my mirrorball champion."
As fans continue to mourn her early exit, Whitney is looking back at her time in the ballroom with nothing but gratitude, and maybe, just maybe, a little heartbreak too. But if her overflowing comments section is any clue, the world can't wait to see what she does next.
Related: Fans Rally For Return of Judges Save After Whitney Leavitt, Mark Ballas Eliminated from 'DWTS'
This story was originally reported byParadeon Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.