Witney Carson Breaks Silence on ‘DWTS’ Exit Rumors Amid Pregnancy

Witney Carson has pushed back against speculation that she wants to be eliminated from Dancing With the Stars while competing during her pregnancy, explaining that viewers have misinterpreted her reactions during the show’s elimination moments.

Carson, who is pregnant with her third child, addressed the speculation after she and her celebrity partner, Guillermo Rodriguez, survived another elimination on Tuesday night.

The pair have been placed in the bottom three for three consecutive weeks, but have avoided elimination each time. During Tuesday’s “Yacht Rock Night,” Taylor Hanson and professional dancer Britt Stewart were sent home instead.

Carson’s facial expressions after learning that she and Rodriguez were safe had prompted some viewers to speculate that she was disappointed about continuing in the competition, particularly because she is pregnant.

She said that interpretation is wrong.

In a video shared on social media, Carson explained that being placed in the bottom three creates an unusual elimination experience. Couples who are safe do not immediately get a chance to celebrate because they first watch another couple leave the competition.

“My face, what you’re seeing, is genuinely sad for the people going home, and then excitement,” Carson explained, according to the Los Angeles Times.

She said the emotional reaction viewers see first is sadness for the departing contestants, followed by happiness that she and Rodriguez are continuing.

Carson also made clear that she is pleased to remain in the competition and defended her partnership with Rodriguez, praising his commitment to improving despite having limited dance experience.

“He really deserves it,” Carson said, describing Rodriguez as kind, determined and unwilling to give up. She added that he continues practicing even during breaks in rehearsals.

The clarification comes as Carson balances the competition with her pregnancy and motherhood. She announced in August that she was expecting her third child and would compete on the 35th season of Dancing With the Stars.

Carson also addressed concerns about whether continuing to dance while pregnant could affect her health or the health of her baby.

She said she knows how far she can push herself after years of professional dancing and emphasized that the baby’s health remains her priority. Carson said she is following the guidance of her doctor and will speak up if she feels she is physically overdoing it.

“As of now, I feel really good,” Carson said, while acknowledging that she is more tired than usual.

She also said the Dancing With the Stars production team is willing to accommodate her needs during the competition.

Carson and Rodriguez’s continued run comes despite their repeated appearances in the bottom three. Their latest performance, a foxtrot to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” earned 15 out of 30 points from the judges, but they received enough viewer support to remain in the competition.

For Carson, the latest episode brought both relief and disappointment. She was happy to continue dancing with Rodriguez while also mourning the departure of fellow professional dancer Britt Stewart and Hanson.

The professional dancer’s response now puts the speculation about her intentions in clearer context: according to Carson herself, her emotional reactions during elimination are about the contestants going home, not a desire to leave Dancing With the Stars.

Carson and Rodriguez will continue their Season 35 run when the competition returns next week.