23 September 2026 · 0 views

DWTS: Who Was Eliminated on Viral Hits Night?

‘DWTS’: Who Was Eliminated on Viral Hits Night?

Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis was eliminated during “Viral Hits Night” on Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Source 2. The Week 2 broadcast featured couples performing routines choreographed to songs popularized across social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram reels Source 1.

Week 2 marked the first formal elimination of the season. Points awarded by judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli during Week 1 and Week 2 were combined with live viewer votes submitted during the broadcast Source 3. The cumulative total decided which couple exited the ballroom.

The Elimination: Who Went Home on Viral Hits Night?

The conclusion of the live broadcast revealed the bottom couples based on the aggregate scoring algorithm. Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough separated the safe contestants from those in danger before announcing the lowest overall totals Source 1.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                       WEEK 2 ELIMINATION SUMMARY                      |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Eliminated Contestant              | Giada De Laurentiis              |
| Professional Partner               | Sasha Farber                     |
| Episode Theme                      | Viral Hits Night (Week 2)        |
| Season                             | Season 35                        |
| Primary Elimination Factor         | Combined Week 1 & 2 Scores/Votes |
+------------------------------------+----------------------------------+

Giada De Laurentiis Eliminated in Week 2

Giada De Laurentiis struggled to establish consistent footwork and timing across the opening two weeks of competition Source 2. Paired with her professional partner, De Laurentiis performed a routine set to a trending modern pop track for Viral Hits Night Source 4.

The judges noted frame stiffness and synchronization issues during side-by-side choreography:

Carrie Ann Inaba: Highlighted musicality disconnects during tempo transitions and urged greater core engagement.
Derek Hough: Praised performance energy and stage presence but noted missed heel leads and inconsistent posture in closed hold.
Bruno Tonioli: Commended the visual presentation while stressing the need for sharper extension through the extremities.

The resulting scores left De Laurentiis near the bottom tier of the judges’ leaderboard, making her vulnerable to viewer vote deficits Source 1.

Giada De Laurentiis Week 2 Score Breakdown:
- Carrie Ann Inaba: 5/10
- Derek Hough:      5/10
- Bruno Tonioli:    5/10
- Week 2 Total:    15/30

The Final Bottom Two Reveal

Following the safety announcements, De Laurentiis stood in jeopardy alongside the second-lowest scoring pair of the evening Source 1. Under Season 35 rules, the couple with the lowest combined percentage of judges’ points and public votes was eliminated directly without an additional judges’ save mechanism Source 4. De Laurentiis and her partner recorded the lowest cumulative index, ending their run for the Mirrorball Trophy Source 2.

Full Leaderboard & Scores for Viral Hits Night

Judges scored each routine on a standard scale from 1 to 10 per judge, creating a maximum possible score of 30 points for the night Source 3.

DWTS Week 2 Scores (2026) Leaderboard

Celebrity Contestant	Professional Partner	Dance Style	Song Selection	Inaba	Hough	Tonioli	Total Score (out of 30)	Status
Jordan Chiles	Brandon Armstrong	Cha-Cha	“Espresso”	8	8	8	24	Safe
Robert Irwin	Witney Carson	Jive	“Makeba”	8	8	7	23	Safe
Danielle Fishel	Pasha Pashkov	Foxtrot	“Golden Hour”	7	8	8	23	Safe
Alix Earle	Alan Bersten	Salsa	“Water”	7	7	8	22	Safe
Dylan Efron	Daniella Karagach	Tango	“Paint the Town Red”	7	7	7	21	Safe
Scott Hoying	Britt Stewart	Quickstep	“Texas Hold ’Em”	7	7	7	21	Safe
Jason Kelce	Jenna Johnson	Paso Doble	“Centuries”	6	7	7	20	Safe
Chloe Kim	Val Chmerkovskiy	Rumba	“Greedy”	7	6	7	20	Safe
Andy Cohen	Emma Slater	Samba	“Padam Padam”	6	6	6	18	Safe
Mark Consuelos	Peta Murgatroyd	Viennese Waltz	“Glimpse of Us”	6	6	6	18	Safe
Hoda Kotb	Gleb Savchenko	Cha-Cha	“Dance the Night”	5	6	6	17	Bottom Two
Giada De Laurentiis	Sasha Farber	Tango	“Feather”	5	5	5	15	Eliminated

Top Performers of the Night

Jordan Chiles and Brandon Armstrong led the leaderboard with a Cha-Cha set to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” Source 1. The judges commended Chiles for sharp hip action, grounded foot placement, and precise rhythmic isolations.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson secured second place with a high-speed Jive to Jain’s “Makeba.” The routine featured clean kicks, flick action, and synchronized floor work that earned positive feedback for stamina and frame control Source 3.

Middle of the Leaderboard

Couples scoring between 20 and 22 points occupied the middle positions:

Alix Earle & Alan Bersten (22/30): Delivered an intricate Salsa set to Tyla’s “Water.” Feedback noted strong rhythm but recommended greater core stability during overhead lifts.
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach (21/30): Performed a dramatic Tango to Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red.” Derek Hough highlighted aggressive attack but noted loss of frame during rotational promenades.
Scott Hoying & Britt Stewart (21/30): Executed a Quickstep to Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’Em,” showing clean frame management through high-tempo transitions.

Contestants in this tier require technical refinements in footwork and posture to avoid sliding into elimination danger as judge expectations increase in Week 3.

      LEADERBOARD DISTRIBUTION - VIRAL HITS NIGHT
+-------------------------------------------------------+
|  Top Tier (23-24 pts)      | Chiles, Irwin, Fishel    |
|  Mid-High Tier (21-22 pts) | Earle, Efron, Hoying     |
|  Mid-Low Tier (18-20 pts)  | Kelce, Kim, Cohen, Cons. |
|  Danger Tier (15-17 pts)   | Kotb, De Laurentiis      |
+-------------------------------------------------------+

Lowest-Scoring Routines

The bottom tier consisted of Hoda Kotb (17/30) and Giada De Laurentiis (15/30) Source 1. Kotb’s Cha-Cha suffered from tentative weight distribution and missed syncopations. De Laurentiis posted the lowest score across the combined two weeks, directly contributing to her exit once audience votes were factored into the total Source 2.

Viral Hits Night Performance Recaps & Highlights

The episode structured 12 routines around audio tracks that generated high engagement figures on global streaming and social platforms Source 4.

PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN BY STYLE:
- Latin & Club Styles (Cha-Cha, Jive, Salsa, Samba, Rumba): 6 Routines
- Ballroom Styles (Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, Paso Doble): 6 Routines

High-Energy Up-Tempo Dances

Latin and up-tempo styles challenged celebrities to match fast-paced viral audio tempos while maintaining traditional ballroom foot action Source 1:

Jordan Chiles & Brandon Armstrong (Cha-Cha): Showcased controlled rotation and clean leg action. Inaba highlighted Chiles’ natural rhythm and balance through spin combinations.
Robert Irwin & Witney Carson (Jive): Executed high-speed kick-ball-changes. Hough pointed out precise ankle articulation and stamina during the routine’s back half.
Andy Cohen & Emma Slater (Samba): Incorporated recognizable social media choreography within a traditional Samba framework. The judges cited weak hip action and flat foot strikes.

Ballroom and Classical Showcases

Ballroom routines adapted traditional technique to contemporary arrangements Source 3:

Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov (Foxtrot): Balanced fluid heel-turn progressions with modern staging to JVKE’s “Golden Hour.” The judges praised Fishel’s neckline and posture in closed position.
Jason Kelce & Jenna Johnson (Paso Doble): Emphasized power and dramatic shaping to Fall Out Boy’s “Centuries.” Feedback focused on softening transitions and preventing raised shoulders during cape work.
Mark Consuelos & Peta Murgatroyd (Viennese Waltz): Maintained consistent rotation to Joji’s “Glimpse of Us” but lost posture during reverse turns.

How Voting and Scoring Worked in Week 2

Elimination decisions on Dancing with the Stars rely on an equal mathematical distribution between judge marks and viewer participation Source 1.

SCORING PERCENTAGE SPLIT:
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
|        Judges' Score (50%)         |         Fan Votes (50%)            |
| Max 30 points/night converted to % | Total viewer votes converted to %  |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
                                  |
                                  v
              Final Combined Percentage = Total Ranking

$$\text{Final Percentage} = \left( \frac{\text{Couples’ Judges Points}}{\text{Total Judges Points Awarded}} \times 50 \right) + \left( \frac{\text{Couples’ Fan Votes}}{\text{Total Fan Votes Cast}} \times 50 \right)$$

The Impact of the Combined Week 1 and Week 2 Scores

Week 1 did not feature an elimination. Instead, judges’ points from Week 1 (Premiere Night) carried over and combined with Week 2 (Viral Hits Night) marks Source 3.

Cumulative Judges' Standings Leading to Elimination:
1. Jordan Chiles:        47 / 60 points
2. Robert Irwin:          45 / 60 points
3. Danielle Fishel:       44 / 60 points
...
11. Hoda Kotb:            33 / 60 points
12. Giada De Laurentiis:  30 / 60 points (Lowest Combined Total)

Giada De Laurentiis entered Week 2 at the bottom of the aggregate table with 15 points from Week 1. Repeating a 15-point total in Week 2 left her with 30 out of 60 cumulative points, creating a significant statistical deficit Source 2.

Fan Voting Dynamics

Viewers cast votes via ABC.com and SMS during the live broadcast window in the Eastern and Central time zones Source 1. Public participation historically shields low-scoring celebrities if their fan base generates substantial voting volume. In Week 2, De Laurentiis’ public vote share was insufficient to overcome her 30-point cumulative judges’ deficit against Hoda Kotb and Andy Cohen.

Looking Ahead: Who Remains in the Competition?

Following the elimination of Giada De Laurentiis, 11 couples advance to Week 3 Source 1:

Jordan Chiles & Brandon Armstrong
Robert Irwin & Witney Carson
Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov
Alix Earle & Alan Bersten
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach
Scott Hoying & Britt Stewart
Jason Kelce & Jenna Johnson
Chloe Kim & Val Chmerkovskiy
Andy Cohen & Emma Slater
Mark Consuelos & Peta Murgatroyd
Hoda Kotb & Gleb Savchenko

Week 3 will feature “Movie Night,” requiring the remaining couples to perform routines inspired by iconic film soundtracks and cinematic dance sequences Source 4.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was eliminated on DWTS Viral Hits Night?

Giada De Laurentiis and professional partner Sasha Farber were eliminated during Week 2 “Viral Hits Night” of Season 35 Source 2.

What season of DWTS featured Viral Hits Night?

“Viral Hits Night” aired as Week 2 of Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Source 1.

What happens to the scores from Week 1 and Week 2?

Judges’ points from Week 1 and Week 2 are summed together and combined with viewer votes to determine the couples at risk during the first elimination episode Source 3.

Who had the highest score on Viral Hits Night?

Jordan Chiles and Brandon Armstrong earned the highest score of the evening, scoring 24 out of 30 points with their Cha-Cha to “Espresso” Source 1.

When does Dancing with the Stars air next?

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT live on ABC and Disney+, with on-demand streaming available the next day on Hulu Source 1.

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