Jenna Dewan Reflects on 'Grace' After Shocking DWTS Elimination
Jenna Dewan was eliminated from 'Dancing with the Stars' on November 10 following a 'Grammy Night' episode. She chose to focus on 'grace' rather than resentment regarding her partner Val Chmerkovskiy’s recent suspension. Janet Jackson sent a surprise video message to Dewan, who had previously danced in her music videos. Despite winning their dance-off, Dewan and Chmerkovskiy were voted out by viewers.
Key points
- Dewan was eliminated on Nov. 10 after performing a jazz routine to Janet Jackson’s 'All For You.'
- She stated she chose to show 'grace and love' rather than be 'annoyed and bitter' about Chmerkovskiy’s one-week suspension.
- Janet Jackson sent a surprise video message to Dewan, calling the performance 'honored' and 'full-circle.'
- The couple won their head-to-head dance-off against Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik but lost the overall vote.
- Chmerkovskiy had previously been suspended for comments regarding judge Carrie Ann Inaba and his wife, Jenna Johnson.
Background
Chmerkovskiy was suspended in October for a TikTok comment referencing the 2022 Oscars incident, which was a response to Inaba’s critique of his wife. He returned to the show on Oct. 27, apologizing to Dewan and Inaba. During his absence, Alan Bersten substituted as Dewan’s partner. This elimination ends their run after a season marked by controversy and high scores.
How outlets are covering it
Yahoo Entertainment emphasizes Dewan’s emotional resilience, quoting her decision to prioritize 'grace' over bitterness regarding the suspension. Billboard highlights the 'full-circle' nature of the Janet Jackson cameo, noting Dewan’s history as a backup dancer for the singer. ABC7 Los Angeles provides a detailed breakdown of the scoring, noting that while Dewan and Chmerkovskiy won their dance-off, they placed third in the final scoreboard behind Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson. Rolling Stone focuses on the live musical performances by Brandy, Monica, Maren Morris, and Sheryl Crow that accompanied the dance-offs.
Why it matters
The elimination of a high-scoring, fan-favorite couple underscores the volatility of viewer voting in reality competitions. It also highlights the ongoing tension between personal conduct and professional performance in televised dance competitions, as the suspension controversy continued to influence public perception of the couple despite their technical success.
What to watch
The show will proceed to its semifinals next week, featuring the remaining five couples. The 69th Grammy Awards nominations are expected to be announced shortly after this episode, given the 'Grammy Night' theme.
- Jenna Dewan Says She Chose ‘Grace’ Rather Than ‘Be Annoyed and Bitter’ About Val Chmerkovskiy’s “Dancing with the Stars” Suspension Yahoo
- Janet Jackson ‘So Excited’ in Surprise ‘DWTS’ Cameo Honoring Former ‘All For You’ Video Dancer: ‘I Feel So Honored’ Billboard
- 'Dancing with the Stars' recap: 'Grammy Night' ends with surprising elimination ABC7 Los Angeles
- Watch Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow Perform Live on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Rolling Stone
- ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Live Updates: Who Is Going Home on Grammys Night? People.com
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