Fans don’t think Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas are out of the hot seat just yet. After a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it Dancing With the Stars giveaway gone wrong, some viewers think the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star lost her chance of winning season 34.
The duo announced on Oct. 23 that they would be gifting tickets to the live DWTS show. The next day, Leavitt, 32, and Ballas, 39, said the contest was shut down by network executives.
“This has come directly from ABC and BBC and is completely out of our hands,” Ballas explained in the follow-up video. Reactions poured in from disappointed followers with many speculating that offering tickets could violate competition rules.
“Whitney Leavitt just ruined her own chances of winning the Mirrorball,” a TikTok user posted. “The giveaway was a risk and this kind of controversy lowers certainty rather than increase it.”
Reddit got a hold of the TikTok, but they don’t necessarily agree. “Guys, is Whitney cooked?” one Redditor asked.
“About as cooked as the sushi I’m eating right now,” another user replied in the comments. Most seem to think Leavitt and Ballas are going to be just fine, pointing out how a majority of DWTS viewers are “middle-aged [to] senior adults.”
“I doubt too many of them are getting caught up in TikTok giveaway drama,” that Reddit user added. “The influx of young/social media fans did not replace that demographic, just combined with them, which is the reason for the way higher overall viewership.”
“I don’t think it is something that is going to really change the behavior of a material number of voters,” another comment reads. Several other Reddit users agree, calling the TikTok post “a reach.”
For now, Leavitt and Ballas remain in the competition! See if they survive Halloween Night elimination — watch Dancing With the Stars Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC or stream on Disney+.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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