Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas opened up on the Call Her Daddy podcast about their surprising elimination from Dancing With the Stars during the semifinals of season 34. Despite being considered frontrunners throughout the competition, they were eliminated on November 18. Ballas recalled sensing their potential elimination and encouraged Leavitt to fully enjoy their final performance.

During their Viennese waltz, Leavitt noticed a significant difference from their previous routines. When she became emotional backstage, Ballas shifted into a supportive role to encourage her.

Leavitt speculated that her controversial reality show, "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," may have influenced viewer voting and created a divisive public image. Both dancers reflected on the meaningful friendship they developed and emphasized that personal growth and connections were more valuable than the competition outcome. They maintained a positive perspective despite the disappointment of not reaching the finale.