Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba addressed Britt Stewart and Taylor Hanson‘s shocking elimination from season 35.
Inaba, 58, replied to a TikTok edit on Tuesday, September 29, that showed multiple instances Stewart, 37, was voted off throughout her time on DWTS, writing, “This hurt. Britt is so talented.”
While praising Stewart, Inaba recalled telling Robert Irwin that the pro and Hanson, 43, were “the ones to watch that first week” when she appeared on his aftershow. The duo were sent home after they performed a foxtrot to “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers on Tuesday, which scored them 18 out of 30.
“This has been everything. This has been incredible,” Hanson gushed. “She’s shown me things I didn’t think [were] possible, and I’m so grateful for this time.”
Stewart, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to Hanson. “Taylor, I am so grateful that I now have you in my life,” she added. “Thank you so much for everything. You are amazing.”
Earlier in the season, Conner Leavitt and partner Adele Zaikman in addition to Sarah Jane Nader and pro Hailey Bills went home during week one. Giada De Laurentiis and her partner, Alan Bersten, followed that up with an elimination during week two.
Stewart’s elimination comes after she shared her excitement at her partnership with Hanson.
“It was a very early morning [for pro rehearsals] and then Taylor and I had rehearsal after that,” Stewart said in a September video. “It’s going really well for someone that’s never danced before.”
She continued, “I’m just really impressed with him, and I’m just very excited for him and for this season. I cannot wait, and on top of that, I just feel like Taylor is such a good human.”
Stewart said she felt “a lot of alignment” with Hanson.
“Obviously, Taylor and I just met and we’re still getting to know each other, but it’s been really nice to just share space with him,” she shared. “We’re finding that we have actually a lot in common. It’s pretty wild, and I am so grateful. I’m feeling very blessed that he’s my partner.”
The pro dancer saw the collaboration as a chance to better herself as a teacher, saying, “You know that I believe that everything happens for a reason, and there’s definitely a reason why Taylor is my partner this season and that he’s coming into my life. Not to get, like, too deep, but you guys know. If you know me and you follow me for a long time, you know this about me. I find purpose and intention in pretty much everything in life.”
Hanson felt exactly the same way.
“We are here to have a great time. I have a great teacher,” he exclusively told Us earlier this month. “There’s really no loss in this for me. Every day we’re doing [this] it’s a win. … I’m here to leave it all on the dance floor, so my only competition is the challenge of being excellent.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
