'DWTS' Week 4 Ends With a Shocking Elimination That Divides Fans

The special night celebrating the spirit of Disney in honor of Disneyland Resort’s 70th Anniversary was full of magic, but for some contestants, it ended in tears.

A "Dancing With the Stars" (DWTS) couple was eliminated in the October 7, 2025 episode, even though several contestants with lower scores remained in the competition. The unexpected exit left fans stunned and sparked a wave of reactions online.

Disney Dreams Turn into Heartbreak

The 11 remaining couples transformed the ballroom into a dazzling Disney celebration, performing routines inspired by beloved films and attractions. The night featured a variety of dances, including the Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Jazz, Salsa, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep.

Stars Hilaria Baldwin, Danielle Fishel, Alix Earle, Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron, Scott Hoying, Robert Irwin, Jen Affleck, and Whitney Leavitt all impressed the judges with energetic performances and glowing reviews.

After an evening of Disney magic, the competition took an emotional turn with a surprising elimination. The first couples announced as safe were Affleck and Jan Ravnik, Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Efron and Daniella Karagach, and Hendrix and Alan Bersten.

They were followed by Leavitt and Mark Ballas, Irwin and Witney Carson, Hoying and Rylee Arnold, and Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy. That left Fishel and Pasha Pashkov, Richter and Emma Slater, and Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko waiting nervously on stage.

In the end, Baldwin and Savchenko, who performed a Quickstep to "Cantina Band" by John Williams & London Symphony Orchestra from "Star Wars: A New Hope," were revealed as the couple leaving the competition.

The Elimination Leaves Fans Divided and Furious

The announcement sparked a wave of intense fan reactions online — while some defended the eliminated pair, others felt the results were fair and celebrated the outcome.

One fan couldn't hold back their admiration, saying, "Y’all be hatin' but she has the technique of a trained dancer! I fear, this season is so hard to judge [sic]."

Another viewer questioned the backlash against the performer, "Not sure why all the negative comments. She was a great dancer and didn't deserve to leave. Sometimes I wish the scores were solely up to the judges."

This fan shared frustration over the elimination, "And yet again, the wrong couple went home." One commenter pointed out, "So unfair. It's literally a popularity dance show @dancingwiththestars it's not about who's a good dancer! I mean come on Andy or others weren't close to as good as Hilaria! Ugh [sic]."

Not all fans were upset. One viewer who was satisfied with the outcome noted, "Justice is served." And finally, one fan expressed sheer delight, "I am actually so happy this week w [sic] the results 🤭❤️."

A Night of Sparkles, Scores, and Surprising Results

The scores of the dreamy Disney night ranged from 25 to 18. Leavitt and Ballas topped the leaderboard with 25 out of 30, followed closely by Hendrix and Bersten, Earle and Chmerkovskiy, and Chiles and Sosa, who each earned 24.

Efron and Karagach, Baldwin and Savchenko, and Affleck and Ravnik all scored 23, while Fishel and Pashkov tied with Hoying and Arnold at 21. Irwin and Carson landed just above the bottom with 22, and Richter and Slater rounded out the list with 18 out of 30.

Still, Baldwin and Savchenko earned higher scores from the judges than they did the previous week and appeared to be strong contenders to watch. However, the combined total of judges' scores and viewer votes wasn't enough to keep them in the competition.

Many expected it to be Richter and Slater's final night, as they had received the lowest judges' scores of the evening for their Ratatouille-inspired dance.

Baldwin's Final Words

After they were eliminated, Baldwin and Savchenko had a chance to share a few words. "Listen, I'm so proud of you," Savchenko told Baldwin as they walked across the stage.

After taking the mic from co-host Julianne Hough, Baldwin shared that "this has been an incredible experience." She continued, "I am so grateful to all of you, I'm so grateful to my children and my family. I'm cheering on everybody in the cast. This has been an amazing time."

Savchenko went on to describe Hilaria Baldwin as a "superhero and an incredible mom." He added, "You are truly an inspiration."

Baldwin later gave an interview where she was asked if there was anything she had learned from "DWTS." Holding back tears, she shared that she had learned to open her heart to something she had once closed off and to allow herself to be vulnerable.

The 41-year-old grew emotional as she recalled a conversation with her daughter — who turned 3 while she was competing — about the possibility of being eliminated early.

Her daughter had told her that even if she was sent home right away, Baldwin would know that at least she tried. Baldwin said she hopes her children carry that same spirit of always trying in everything they do.

Savchenko also reflected on their journey, saying he was grateful to have danced with her because she brought so much heart and love to each performance. He added that Baldwin worked incredibly hard and was always the first to arrive for rehearsals. The pair agreed that they were proud of their performances throughout the competition.

Baldwin Reflects on Fighting the Nepo Baby Label

Baldwin's journey on "DWTS" was not without controversy and challenges. Early on, she had to address claims that she had joined the show through her husband, Alec Baldwin's influence.

The yoga instructor said on an episode of the "Not Skinny But Not Fat: podcast, "If he ever made a call, that would make things easier on me, I would feel like I didn't deserve it."

She clarified that her place in the competition was based on her own effort and ability rather than any outside help. Baldwin emphasized her commitment to hard work and independence and explained that she prefers to earn opportunities on her own merit.

She added that her determination is intentional, knowing that anyone who marries a celebrity can easily be labeled a nepo baby. "It makes you feel like you don’t earn things, which is just a horrible feeling. Especially as a Capricorn, a horrible feeling," noted Baldwin.

As we previously reported, another elimination that shocked the ballroom was that of Lauren Jauregui. The Fifth Harmony songstress didn't hide her fury after being booted from "DWTS" on Tuesday night, September 30, 2025 — delivering a one-word reaction that instantly went viral.

Although the star gave it her all in her performance with dance partner Brandon Armstrong, it wasn't enough to impress the judges. After her one-word reaction, Jauregui took some time to debrief properly about her exit with Entertainment Tonight.

Grand Entrance, Glittering Dress… Then Crushing Disappointment

The moment Jauregui descended onto the stage from a towering construction lift, it was clear her performance was meant to make a statement. Dressed in a bold, yellow, tassel-adorned mini dress that shimmered under the lights, she looked every bit the pop diva, ready to command attention.

As the opening beats of Fifth Harmony and Ty Dolla $ign's "Work From Home" pulsed through the ballroom, she met Armstrong on the floor — him clad in a high-vis vest to match the performance's construction site theme.

The duo wasted no time, diving into a high-energy cha cha filled with synchronized hip sways, dramatic hair flips, sharp arm movements, and dynamic spins. Each step, from sultry dips to swift cha cha sequences, was punctuated by cheers from the audience, who appeared captivated by the pair's stage presence.

The performance ended on a celebratory note, as Jauregui ran off with a bright smile to join her fellow Fifth Harmony bandmates in the crowd, as they applauded her with beaming pride and enthusiastic claps.

But the celebratory energy quickly gave way to disappointment when the results were revealed, which saw Jauregui eliminated from the competition. As cohosts Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro turned to the star for her thoughts, the singer didn't sugarcoat her feelings.

Her Raw One-Word Reaction That Said It All

"Pissed," she expressed bluntly, the single word capturing the sting of the moment with striking honesty. Her candid response sparked a surprised laugh from Armstrong, who stood supportively at her side. Despite the frustration, Jauregui took a beat to acknowledge her partner, turning to him with sincerity and adding, "I'm so grateful to have had you as a partner."

The emotional shift was palpable — a mix of raw vulnerability and gracious farewell that resonated with viewers watching live.

Fans Call It a 'Disrespectful' Elimination: 'Y'all Wanted Her Off'

Almost immediately after the results were announced, the internet lit up with passionate reactions from fans and critics alike. Many came to Jauregui's defense, insisting that her exit was unjustified and indicative of a larger issue within the competition.

One viewer fumed, "Andy is sweet and etc, BUT he can't even move. Baron being eliminated last week was already absurd. Lauren leaving this week is literally disrespectul #dwts [sic]," before quickly returning to correct their spelling and double down — "disrespectful SORRY I'M PISS [sic]."

Another supporter declared, "Unbelievable. Lauren Jauregui did not deserve to be eliminated. She was one of the best!!!!! [sic]."

Some fans speculated that factors beyond dancing may have influenced the judges' decision. "She got eliminated because of her advocacy. Y'all are not slick. The intentional underscoring...y'all wanted her off," one netizen alleged.

Still, not all feedback was in Jauregui's favor. Several viewers pointed to the quality of her performance. "Unpopular opinion: I just thought Lauren's dance was boring & stiff 🤷‍♀️. BUT… she wasn't my least favourite so [sic] I'm still surprised with her elimination #dwts," opined someone else.

Echoing similar sentiments, one commenter stated flatly, "She can't move lol," while another agreed, "Unfortunately she can't dance however if I was her, I'd be pissed too [sic]."

A different netizen added, "y'all just have to admit… lauren's dancing tonight was just NOT IT #DWTS im sorry [sic]," accompanying their words with a shrugging Reese Witherspoon GIF.

There was also criticism of Jauregui's demeanor throughout the competition. "i just thought lauren's attitude always seemed like she thought she was better than everyone…. [sic]," shared one viewer, hinting that public perception may have influenced voting as much as performance.