"Dancing with the Stars" Delivers a Halloween Shocker: A Night of Frights, Surprises, and a Heartbreaking Elimination

October 28, 2025

The ballroom was transformed into a spooktacular spectacle for Halloween Night on "Dancing with the Stars," but the evening was filled with more than just creative costumes and chilling choreography. A shocking injury, a record-breaking night for fan voting, and a tearful elimination left both the audience and contestants on the edge of their seats.

The remaining nine couples took to the dance floor to perform haunting routines, with two-time Mirrorball champion Cheryl Burke joining the judging panel. The night was filled with standout performances, but the drama began early when it was announced that actress Elaine Hendrix had been hospitalized after an injury sustained during rehearsals. Despite being unable to perform live, she was judged on her rehearsal footage and remained in the competition, with fans still able to cast their votes for her and partner Alan Bersten.

A "Monster-thon" of a Dance-Off

Adding to the competitive tension was the return of the "Dance Monster-thon," a grueling marathon where all nine couples danced simultaneously to a hustle and then a Lindy Hop. The judges gradually eliminated couples from the dance floor, with bonus points awarded based on how long they survived. This season's king and queen of the "Dance Monster-thon" were Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, who outlasted their competitors to earn five crucial bonus points.

Top of the Leaderboard and a Shocking Elimination

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy ultimately topped the leaderboard with an electrifying Tango that earned them a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40, which was boosted to 43 after the dance marathon. Close behind were Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, whose impressive "Monster-thon" performance brought their total to 42. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson also impressed the judges with a dramatic Argentine Tango, earning a strong 38.

Despite a night of incredible performances, the combination of judges' scores and viewer votes led to a surprising and emotional farewell. Jen Affleck and her partner Jan Ravnik were eliminated from the competition. The "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star delivered an emotional contemporary routine to Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do," but it wasn't enough to save them from elimination. Upon her departure, a grateful Affleck shared, "This experience has meant everything to me. I did this for my kids and I'm so grateful for the experience."

Your Vote Matters: How to Keep Your Favorites Dancing

The thrilling Halloween episode highlighted the crucial role of the "Dancing with the Stars" voting process. With a record-breaking 50.15 million votes cast, it's clear that fan participation is at an all-time high. Here’s everything you need to know to make your voice heard:

How to Vote on "Dancing with the Stars":

You can support your favorite couples in two ways:

Online Voting: Viewers can cast their votes on the official ABC website: dwtsvote.abc.com. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and reside in the U.S. or Canada.

SMS Text Voting: For those in the U.S., you can also vote via text message. Simply text the first name of the celebrity you want to vote for to the number 21523.

Dancing with the Stars Voting Time:

Voting opens at the beginning of each live episode at 8 p.m. ET and closes shortly after the final dance of the night.

How many times can you vote?

You can vote up to 10 times per couple, per voting method, for a total of 20 possible votes for each of your favorite pairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "Dancing with the Stars" voting real?

Yes, the fan vote is a critical component of the show. The final results are a 50/50 combination of the judges' scores and the audience's votes. The massive number of votes cast each week demonstrates the significant impact fans have on which couples advance and who is sent home.

How much do "DWTS" stars get paid?

The celebrity contestants on "Dancing with the Stars" receive a handsome compensation for their time in the ballroom. They reportedly earn a starting salary of $125,000 for the rehearsal period and the first two weeks of the competition. The longer they stay in the competition, the more they earn, with bonuses awarded for each week they advance. For example, making it to weeks three and four can earn an additional $10,000 per week. A celebrity who makes it to the finale could potentially earn a total of around $295,000 to $360,000. The professional dancers also have a base salary, which increases the further they and their celebrity partners progress in the competition.