Two Pairs Lose Their Spot and Become Ineligible on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ – Weekly Elimination Recap
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars raised the stakes during “One Hit-Wonders Night,” delivering dazzling performances, emotional highs, and an intense results reveal that had viewers glued to their screens — and some storming social media in frustration. As the first eliminations of the season took place, two couples were officially declared no longer eligible to remain in the competition. While some fans agreed with the decisions, others were stunned, calling the outcome “unfair” and emotionally charged.
The Ballroom Bloodbath: First Eliminations of the Season. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli combined audience votes from the first two weeks with judges’ scores to determine who would remain eligible to compete — and who would not. The final tally led to a double elimination. Corey Feldman and his professional partner Jenna Johnson earned 15 out of 30 for their Cha Cha to Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.” Meanwhile, Baron Davis and Britt Stewart received 18 out of 30 for their Samba to “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison. Both couples were cut from the competition and are no longer eligible to dance for the mirrorball trophy.
However, the biggest controversy came from a dancer who remained eligible: Hilaria Baldwin. Her Tango with pro partner Gleb Savchenko, set to Haddaway’s “What Is Love,” scored 21 out of 30 — enough to keep her in the competition. Yet many fans felt that others were more deserving.
Viewer Backlash: “I’m Done Watching This Season”
Social media quickly lit up with angry and emotional reactions. Many fans claimed that Corey and Baron should still be eligible contestants, while Hilaria should have been eliminated instead.One viewer vented, “Yeah no, I’m done watching this season since she’s still on. Corey and Baron deserve to be there more than her. Was ready to sit down every Tuesday… my Tuesdays are now free.”Another blunt post read: “Baron deserved better. Send her home.”
One emotional fan admitted, “I literally sobbed. I’m not even joking. Why, why, whyyyy? Bring Baron back, please. I miss him.”Others went further, questioning Hilaria’s very eligibility for the show:“A real shame people voted for Hilaria Baldwin. She has a lot of ballroom experience — she shouldn’t even be on the show.”Another person echoed that opinion:“I’m sorry… but I need Hilaria Baldwin gone. She has had ballroom training in the past. It’s not fair.”Still, not all comments were negative. One supporter wrote:“Another week of Hilaria giving us the best dance of the night.”
Another viewer defended her advancement:“I get that Hilaria struggles with popularity, but she had the best dance of the night. My opinion is purely based on her dance.”And another praised her routine:“Best dance of the night! Should’ve been a higher score.”
Leaderboard: Who’s Rising and Who’s at Risk
The lowest scores of the night came from Feldman and Johnson (15), followed by Andy Richter and Emma Slater, who earned a 16 for their Tango. Davis and Stewart were next at 18. Despite scoring 21, Baldwin and Savchenko still landed in the bottom three after combining votes and judges’ scores. However, they were ultimately deemed eligible to advance. At the top of the leaderboard, four couples tied with 22 points each:
Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik (Quickstep)
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa (Jive)
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas (Cha Cha)
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson (Tango)
Emotional Goodbyes from the Eliminated Contestants
Corey Feldman expressed regret, especially for his partner: “Jenna is amazing. I feel really terrible because she deserved better. She was the queen from last year. She deserves to be the champ every year, in my book.”
Baron Davis also offered heartfelt words: “I haven’t been coached in a while, so to get off my butt was awesome. I wanted to win this for Britt.”
Though no longer eligible to compete, both men left the show with grace and gratitude.
Robert Irwin Steals the Show — And the Internet’s Heart
As reported earlier, Dancing With the Stars Season 34 premiered on September 17 in true Hollywood fashion — but it was Robert Irwin who truly stood out.
The wildlife conservationist and TV personality teamed up with professional dancer Witney Carson for a Jive to Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.” Set in a safari-themed scene, Irwin kicked off the number by leaping off the hood of a Land Rover and into a high-energy routine full of flips, kicks, and dips. The ballroom erupted with applause, and Judge Derek Hough — who once danced with Robert’s sister Bindi in Season 21 — was visibly impressed:
“That was one of the best first dances I’ve ever seen on this show.”
Fans were equally stunned.
“Robert was hands down the best performance of the night,” one fan tweeted.
“He’s dancing like a pro!” said another.
“My money is on Robert and Whitney ,” wrote a supporter.
Despite having no prior dance experience, Robert proved himself more than eligible to be a serious contender this season.
Corey Feldman’s Routine Faces Harsh Criticism
While Irwin soared, Feldman’s performance didn’t fare as well. His Tango with Johnson, danced to Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me,” received negative reactions both in the ballroom and online.
Viewers were critical:
“Painful to watch!”
“That wasn’t good.”
“He knew the steps but has no rhythm at all.”
Some even predicted Feldman would be among the first to lose eligibility, and sadly, they were right.
Final Thoughts
Week one of eliminations was dramatic, emotional, and highly controversial. As fans debate who truly deserves to be eligible to continue, one thing is clear: Dancing With the Stars Season 34 has officially begun — and the competition is fierce. Stay tuned. The mirrorball trophy is still up for grabs.