DWTS Contestants Fishel and Leavitt Share Poignant Backstage Moment Amid Shocking Elimination

On October 1, 2025, Dancing With the Stars contestants Trina Fishel and Kimberly Leavitt shared an emotional interaction backstage following a shocking elimination on the show. Fishel, a 44-year-old actress, told TMZ that the experience was a "roller-coaster of emotions," as she felt both happy for those who were safe and sad for the person who was eliminated.

The incident occurred during the September 30th episode, when the camera captured Leavitt, a 32-year-old reality TV star, appearing to go from visibly excited to very serious after interacting with Fishel. While some viewers speculated that Fishel had "shaded" Leavitt, another angle suggests the two simply shared a quick laugh after accidentally bumping into each other.

Regardless of the nature of their interaction, both Fishel and Leavitt remain focused on their upcoming Disney-themed dance performances. Fishel expressed her excitement about the upcoming week, saying, "It's really nice when you get to watch a couple of performances and then do your own and then you just get to enjoy the whole night. It's such a spectacle."

Similarly, Leavitt was thrilled to receive high scores for her samba performance the previous week, describing the experience as "very rewarding" after the dance proved to be "really intimidating" for her.