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'DWTS' Contestants Forced to Cancel Fan Giveaway
25 Oct
Summary
- "DWTS" stars Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas had to cancel a giveaway for fans
- The giveaway was not authorized by ABC and BBC, the show's network and producer
- Fans speculated the giveaway could have been seen as a "bribe for votes"
On October 23rd, 2025, "Dancing With the Stars" (DWTS) contestants Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas announced they had to cancel a giveaway they had promised to their fans earlier in the week. The couple, who star on the reality show "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," took to TikTok to inform their over 3 million followers that the planned giveaway was not authorized by ABC and BBC, the respective network and producer of DWTS.
Ballas explained in the video that the decision to cancel the giveaway was "completely out of our hands." Leavitt expressed her disappointment, saying she and Ballas "just wanted to do something really special" for their supportive fans. The original giveaway offer would have flown out a dedicated fan and a guest to Los Angeles to watch the DWTS Halloween live show.
While Ballas and Leavitt did not clarify the specific reason for the giveaway's rejection, some fans speculated it could have been viewed as an attempt to "bribe for votes" in the competition, where contestants are evaluated based on scores and viewer votes. The couple has been scoring highly each week, leading some fans to question why 20-season DWTS veteran Ballas would not have known better.
Despite the setback, Ballas and Leavitt said they plan to find another way to show their gratitude to their fans. The duo is set to perform a jazz routine to "Brain Stew" by Green Day on the Halloween-themed DWTS episode next week.
