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DWTS Judges Clash Over Whitney Leavitt's Cha-Cha
19 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Judges Derek Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba sharply disagreed on Whitney Leavitt's cha-cha technique.
- Leavitt and partner Mark Ballas earned a near-perfect score of 29 for their Prince tribute dance.
- Leavitt discussed her motivation for participating in 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'.
The semifinals of 'Dancing With the Stars' season 34 saw a notable clash between judges Derek Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba concerning Whitney Leavitt's cha-cha performance. While Bruno Tonioli praised the dance for its execution and difficulty, Inaba expressed that Leavitt's focus on technique seemed to hinder her usual performative prowess. Hough, however, strongly defended Leavitt's technique, calling her performance "literal perfection" and highlighting the risk of performing a cha-cha in the semifinals.
Despite the judging dissent, Leavitt and professional partner Mark Ballas received a near-perfect score of 29 out of 30 for their routine dedicated to Prince's music. This put them at the top of the leaderboard for the evening until Robert Irwin later achieved a perfect 30. Leavitt also addressed a recent comment about her involvement in 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' explaining her desire to take a chance for herself and the other women on the show.
Leavitt expressed gratitude to producer Deena Katz for the opportunity, stating it has already changed her life. With her strong performances, she remains a contender for the upcoming finale. 'Dancing With the Stars' continues to air on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
