Dancing With the Stars Elimination 2026: Who Went Home After Voting Glitch?
The first celebrity has been eliminated from Dancing With the Stars Season 35, but the opening night came with an unexpected problem.
The show’s online voting system crashed during Tuesday’s premiere, forcing producers to change how viewers could cast their votes. Despite the technical issue, the planned first elimination went ahead.
Conner Leavitt and his professional partner, Adele Zaikman, were the first couple sent home.
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman Eliminated
Leavitt, known for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, performed a salsa with Zaikman during the Season 35 premiere.
The pair danced to “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team. Their performance received a total score of 12 out of 30 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
The judges praised Leavitt’s energy but pointed to problems with technique and timing. The score placed the couple among those most at risk of elimination.
Zaikman was also making her debut as a professional dancer on the main show. She earned her place after winning Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.
What Happened With the Voting Glitch?
The elimination became more complicated when the show’s online voting system stopped working.
During the live broadcast, co-host Julianne Hough told viewers that voting on ABC’s website was experiencing technical problems. Fans were instructed to use text messages instead.
Later, co-host Alfonso Ribeiro confirmed that the online votes submitted during the premiere would not be counted. Producers instead relied on text votes for the night’s elimination.
The problem created confusion because viewers had expected to have both online and text options available.
However, Leavitt said after his elimination that he did not believe the technical problem had unfairly determined the result. He expressed disappointment about leaving early but remained grateful for the opportunity.
Who Had the Highest Score?
While Leavitt and Zaikman received 12 points, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson topped the leaderboard on the first night.
The pair earned 21 out of 30 for their cha-cha, giving them the highest judges’ score of the evening.
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach followed with 20 points. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess earned 17, while Connor Wood and Taylor Hanson each received 16.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson received the night’s lowest judges’ score, with 10 points, but they were not the couple eliminated.
More Eliminations Are Coming
Leavitt and Zaikman’s exit is only the beginning of the Season 35 competition.
The premiere is being split across two nights, with the female celebrities performing on the second night. Another couple is scheduled to leave after those performances.
The season began with 16 celebrity contestants, matching the show’s largest cast. With Leavitt and Zaikman gone, 15 couples remain in the competition.
The voting problems added an unusual twist to the opening episode, but the competition will continue as the remaining celebrities compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
For Leavitt and Zaikman, their journey ended after just one performance. The pair thanked viewers and the show for the experience, while the remaining couples now prepare for another round of performances and another elimination.
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