Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) Contestant's Celebration Sparks Controversy

The latest season of Dancing With the Stars, Season 34, has been airing in 2025 and is proving to be very intense just three weeks in. The competition saw a surprising elimination when Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui and her professional partner Brandon Armstrong were sent home. Following this, the remaining contestants and pros offered comfort to the eliminated pair.

A separate moment during the episode involved contestants Whitney Leavitt and Danielle Fishel and quickly became a topic of discussion online. It appeared to many viewers as though Fishel was abruptly stopping Leavitt from celebrating their safety, leading some to believe Fishel was annoyed by her co-star. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, Whitney Leavitt, attempted to celebrate with the Boy Meets World actress after the credits began to roll, marking their successful advancement to the next week. However, Danielle Fishel quickly halted the celebration to focus on supporting the recently eliminated couple, Jauregui and Armstrong.

Addressing the viral reaction where some fans speculated she was showing shade, Fishel clarified the situation after being questioned about whether Leavitt's actions were "tone deaf." Fishel explained that Leavitt was likely caught up in the excitement and adrenaline of being safe, which caused her to miss the gravity of the moment when others were comforting the eliminated couple. Leavitt immediately understood Fishel's point, stopping her celebration and adopting a serious demeanor to join in supporting Jauregui and Armstrong.

Fishel also noted that while she remains personally thrilled to be moving forward in the competition, especially after agreeing to do the show following a cancer diagnosis last year, she maintains that she can still be happy for her own success while simultaneously being sad for those who are eliminated.

As the show progresses, the competition will undoubtedly become tougher. With the disappointment of Jauregui's elimination, fans are now looking ahead to see which couples will advance to Disney Night. Contestants like Andy Richter and Emma Slater have been particularly engaging, sharing behind-the-scenes content that has charmed viewers. The current season proves that fan favorites are determined not only by their dance skills but also by their conduct, though Fishel herself has cleared up the confusion surrounding her viral moment with Leavitt.