Chaos on DWTS: Online Votes Discarded After Site Meltdown

Dancing With the Stars faced significant disruption during its season 35 premiere on Tuesday night as its online voting system collapsed. Hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro had to adapt on-air when the ABC voting website crashed, preventing viewers from casting their votes digitally. As a direct consequence of the system failure, the show announced that online votes from that premiere night would be invalidated. This unexpected technical issue added a layer of chaos to the highly anticipated season launch.

The new season of DWTS features a star-studded lineup, including figure skater Amber Glenn, reality TV personality Ciara Miller, comedian Connor Wood, Paralympian Ezra French, chef Giada De Laurentiis, actor Harry Shum Jr., baseball player Jackson Olson, dancer Jenna Dewan, actress Julia Stiles, TV personality Maura Higgins, and musician Taylor Hanson. Host Julianne Hough expressed anticipation for the season, hinting at several 'dark horses' among the contestants and emphasizing the show's focus on vulnerability and connection beyond just the dancing.

Reflecting on the show's impact, Hough noted that over its 20-year history, Dancing With the Stars has significantly educated the public about professional dancing. The 35th season is also implementing a new format, with male celebrities performing on Tuesdays and female celebrities on Wednesdays. The first elimination of the season saw Connor Leavitt departing the competition.