Staff Writer- Mary Athorp
Dancing with the Stars season 34 has come and gone, and with it, my sense of peace and joy this winter season. Just kidding… kind of. But, let’s talk about it.
This season was no less riveting than the other 33 seasons… if not more so, due to the diverse set of personalities this season was stocked with. A while back, I wrote an article about my predictions for the season… maybe you read it, maybe you didn’t, but the only thing you need to know is that my predictions were mostly wrong. The surprises this season were never-ending, and kept me, and likely the rest of America, on our toes, so let’s talk about the five biggest ones.
Surprise number one: Lauren Jauregui feeling… upset, shall we say?
Lauren was one of the people I predicted would be voted off relatively quickly. I was kind of spot on. However, it’s safe to say that Lauren has a very confident personality, and with that, a highly competitive nature. She was in it to win it, and her reaction to getting voted off was… shocking, to say the least. It almost gives Anna Delvey (season 33, partners with Ezra Sosa), who is infamous for (in addition to being involved in numerous scandals) her response of “nothing” when asked last season what she took away from the experience. It seems to be these one-word answers that receive the most attention, which is also what happened with Lauren. Lauren’s reputation is certainly better received in comparison to Delvey’s, but her statement still shook the internet. It seems she found some sort of closure by the end of the season, because she was curt and polite during interviews in the finale. Overall, Lauren definitely made her mark, which is impressive considering her short time on the show.
Number two: Hilaria Baldwin’s viral Facebook post following her elimination.
It was hard to feel connected to Hilaria as a person, whereas with the other contestants, I thought they actually presented themselves as real people. Hilaria presented herself as this reserved, successful woman, and, to be honest, I kind of feel bad for her. It seems like she’s built this life that she has to hold up on her own, between business owner, wife, mother, and health and wellness influencer. Whatever the case may be, it doesn’t hide the crazy Facebook scandal that occurred after Hilaria was eliminated. She made a post that hinted at potentially suing Dancing with the Stars for “unfair scoring, emotional distress, and deliberate humiliation”. Now, the lawsuit never happened, and the Facebook post is no longer available, but the damage has certainly been done. Whatever sent Hilaria over the edge to make such an extreme post is a mystery to the internet, but it definitely adds to the mysterious entity that Hilaria is.
Number three: Andy Richter.
Yeah, period. People have mixed emotions about this guy… and me? I love him. Do I think he’s a great dancer? No. Do I think he’s a great person? Yes. Andy’s extended time on Dancing with the Stars was no doubt a surprise. I had him getting eliminated within the first two weeks. He stands as a testament to the power of a crowd favorite, and honestly, I respect him for that. As much as people might be upset that he lasted longer than other, more technically sound dancers, I think he represents how far you can go just by being a good person—and that’s something I think the world needs to see.
Number four: Whitney Leavitt’s elimination following her statement on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Hopefully, this next opinion isn’t heavily opposed, but I truly do believe that Whitney was the best dancer on the show. Alix Earl and Robert Irwin certainly gave her some competition, but likely due to Whitney saying, in a portion of her screentime on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, that she only went on the reality TV show again to be on Dancing with the Stars. Some people raged about this while others supported her opportunistic mindset. Personally, I don’t think Whitney was being unfair in only coming back to Secret Lives for Dancing with the Stars, but I do think that she could have reworded her television statement so that it wouldn’t give the impression of being sneaky. Ultimately, I think that’s why people were upset—not about what Whitney did, but how she did it. Maybe if she had been open about her intentions from the beginning, the reaction might have been less severe. Nonetheless, I think she’s a wonderful dancer, a fun performer, and, respectfully, a clever and opportunistic person.
Number five: Robert Irwin winning the Mirror Ball and literally everyone’s hearts.
Okay, that’s not a surprise, but it should still be mentioned. Let’s not forget to talk about Whitney, either. It sounds like she genuinely needed this win, and who better to win it all with than Robert? Do I think Derek’s emotional and tearful comments about Robert this entire season were a little dramatic? Yes. But can I find any reason to disagree with them? No. Robert and his story are incredible. No doubt that he and Whitney were the best duo to win the Mirror Ball, and it’s a win the world needed.
What can I say? I’m a Dancing with the Stars fangirl, and I need something to distract me from finals. I just don’t know what I’m going to do now that the season is over. It never disappoints, though, so I suppose it’s just time to think about and analyze who the stars will be next season… and what surprises are to come. But, for the time being, if anyone has any recommendations for what to watch on Tuesday nights, I’ll take them!