Fans of Dancing With the Stars were shocked when Fifth Harmony star Lauren Jauregui was eliminated on the series’s September 30 episode. She has now joined the ranks of the show’s most unforgettable celebrity exits, moments that still leave viewers speechless.
As the third episode of Dancing With the Stars Season 34 wrapped, three stars remained standing in the spotlight as potential eliminations. Jauregui was joined by Andy Richter and Elaine Hendrix as the bottom competitors.
After a combination of judges’ and viewers’ votes, it was announced that Jauregui was eliminated from the series. Her shock was evident, and she told viewers she was “pissed.”
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Sadly, the Fifth Harmony star is one in a long line of unforgettable celebrity eliminations in Dancing With the Stars history. These shocking exits continue to resonate with fans.
‘DWTS’ most unforgettable eliminations
In Season 5, one of the most memorable DWTS exits saw Cheetah Girls star Sabrina Bryan and professional dancer Mark Ballas eliminated from the series. Despite consistently strong scores, they finished in seventh place.
Singer Brandy was cut after earning high scores from the show’s judges for four weeks, alongside pro partner Maks Chmerkovskiy. She told Essence of her exit, “I was very numb. I didn’t quite process it all when it first happened. What I walked away with was my confidence, my power, and my strength. I felt like I conquered a fear.”
Actor Juan Pablo Di Pace was arguably the most popular contestant of 2018’s Season 27, earning the highest score for eight of his eleven dances with pro Cheryl Burke. PEOPLE Magazine reported that late head judge Len Goodman was shocked at the news, stating, “There’s no justice here.”
Emmy winner Zendaya made it all the way to the finals of her 2013 season with pro-Val Chmerkovskiy, only to lose to country star Kellie Pickler. She told W Magazine in 2025 she no longer watches the series, admitting, “I’m still harboring a little animosity about that. I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful.”
Glee star Heather Morris was a professional dancer for years (she toured with Beyoncé from 2007-2008) before joining the cast of the iconic FOX series. Therefore, it was a shock when she and Maks Chmerkovskiy were eliminated after they received a perfect score. ABC News reported the audience vocalized their disapproval of Morris’s elimination.
From shocking exits like Sabrina Bryan’s to recent surprises like Lauren Jauregui’s, Dancing With the Stars has consistently kept fans on the edge of their seats. These unforgettable eliminations are a reminder that on the dance floor, anything can happen—and no one is ever truly safe.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. The series airs the next day on Hulu.
