Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday night.
The celebrity chef, 54, and her pro partner became the third couple sent home in Season 35 during the ABC competition’s “Viral Hits Night” episode. Their departure followed back-to-back eliminations in last week’s two-night premiere, which saw “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Conner Leavitt and “Love Thy Nader” star Sarah Jane Nader exit the ballroom.
De Laurentiis and Bersten landed at the bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 12 out of 30 for their Salsa routine set to Becky G’s “Bella Ciao,” They shared that precarious position with “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” star Guillermo Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson, whose Paso Doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” earned the same 12/30 score.
Co-hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro revealed the bottom three couples before the elimination vote. Alongside De Laurentiis and Bersten and Rodriguez and Carson, “Bachelor Nation” star Tyler Cameron and partner Sharna Burgess were also in danger of going home. Cameron and Burgess had earned a 16/30 for their Salsa to “Girls” by The Kid LAROI.
The top of the leaderboard told a different story entirely. Three pairs tied with an impressive 21/30 score. “Step Up” actress Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy delivered a Jive to KATSEYE’s “Animal.” Paralympian gold medalist Ezra French and partner Daniella Karagach performed a Cha Cha to Flo Rida’s “Low.” Olympian gold medal-winning figure skater Amber Glenn and partner Pasha Pashkov rounded out the trio with a Tango to “All the Things She Said” by Harrison.
“Traitors” alum Maura Higgins and partner Mark Ballas followed close behind with a 19/30 for their Cha Cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.” Higgins had topped the female celebrities’ leaderboard during last week’s second night of competition, while “Glee” alum Harry Shum Jr. Did the same among the male celebrities on night one.
Four additional pairs tied at 18/30. “Summer House” star Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong performed a Tango to “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines & Tinashe. Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson and Emma Slater danced a Foxtrot to “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik offered a Foxtrot to Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” Shum Jr. And partner Jenna Johnson performed a Viennese Waltz to “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls.
The middle of the pack saw “Save the Last Dance” actress Julia Stiles and pro partner Ezra Sosa match Cameron’s 16/30 with a Tango to “The Door.” Comedian Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold earned 15/30 for their Tango to “12 to 12” by sombr. Singer Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart also scored 15/30 for a Cha Cha to DNCE’s “Cake By the Ocean.”
The “Viral Hits Night” theme had the Season 35 cast performing routines “inspired by some of the biggest viral hits and unforgettable moments that have taken the internet by storm,” per an ABC press release. The episode marked the first themed night of the competition following the introductory rounds.
De Laurentiis’s elimination came after reports of tension during rehearsals. The celebrity chef had a heated argument with Bersten during preparations for their routine, according to coverage of the episode. She reacted to the brutal scores following that difficult preparation period.
The Season 35 cast continues to shrink as the competition intensifies. New episodes of “DWTS” air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and stream on Hulu the following day.
