Dancing With the Stars Semi-Finals: Two Couples Are Voted Off

Season 29 has been one of the most competitive seasons of Dancing With the Stars. Alas, only four of last night’s six semi-final pairs could advance to next week’s finals.

Dancing With the Stars Double Elimation

Despite turning in perfect scores each in one of their two dances, Skai Jackson and Johnny Weir were sent home. Weir and pro partner Britt Stewart were ejected in the show’s final minutes after it was revealed that they had the lowest combined total of judges’ scores and audience votes. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli were charged with saving either Jackson and her pro partner Alan Bersten or Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) and her pro partner Sasha Farber.

Based on the totality of their work for the whole season, the judges chose Machado and Farber. After the show, Weir and Stewart tweeted a heartfelt video, thanking their loyal supporters. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Weir’s tweet read. “Thank you to my Britt for inspiring me, for believing in me and for being my friend. I love you. @BrittBStewart.”

In their video, Weir stated: “There’s no nice way to do this. But I do want to say thank you to everyone who’s gone on this journey with us, who has supported us, and who enjoyed our performances — whether you voted for us or not, I just hope you guys enjoyed it. I’m so proud I got to work with Britt and I’m so happy that she was my partner and my friend through all of this. It’s been such a humbling and honorable experience to be here and entertain you guys so thank you very, very much.

“We love you,” Stewart added. “It’s an honor to know Johnny and to continue this friendship off of Dancing With the Stars.” The dancer, who just completed her first season as a pro, said that being on the show was much more than a competition. Stewart says she and Weir wanted to inspire people.

Weir hopes not only will Stewart be back for future seasons, but that their supporters will continue to vote for her. “Guys, no matter what, please vote for Britt every [time],” Weir added.

Each couple first did a “redemption” dance last night, repeating one they’d performed earlier in the season that the judges wanted to see improved. Weir and Stewart danced a Salsa, earning 27 points. Jackson and her pro partner, Alan Bersten, took another shot at the Cha-cha-cha, earning 27 points also. Jackson and Bersten earned 30 points for their Viennese Waltz; Weir and Stewart also earned a perfect 30 for their jazz routine.

Not only did the judges score Jackson high, but so did pro Cheryl Burke, who tweeted: “Obsessed with @skaijackson’s Cha Cha! Her leg action was great, although I would have liked to see more hip action and grounding. But compared to her Cha Cha from last time, this was hands down a huge improvement! @Dance10Alan.”

Tradition dictates that all the ejected duos make one final appearance in the Dancing With the Stars finale, set for next week. However, there’s been no official announcement as to what the finale will entail in terms of non-finalists participation. Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.