Let's talk about something that left a lot of fans scratching their heads. Just two weeks into Season 27 of Dancing with the Stars, blind Paralympian Danelle Umstead and her partner Artem Chigvintsev were unexpectedly sent home during the Tuesday, Oct. 2 episode. Now, here's the kicker: fans are absolutely livid about it. Why? Because Danelle wasn’t just any contestant; she was an inspiration to so many people tuning in each week.
Take a moment to imagine the reaction. Social media lit up with posts from fans expressing their disappointment. One person tweeted, “Really REALLLY bummed @DanelleUmstead got eliminated this week. I know she wasn’t ‘the best’ dancer but I loved watching her learn to dance. Truly amazing.” Another chimed in with, “I’m so sad about this! What an inspiration to everyone! [Thank you], Danelle, for [your] beautiful dancing and facing what had to be so scary! And you, Artem, for what most would have seen as an impossible challenge. Love you both.” The heartfelt messages poured in, painting a vivid picture of how much Danelle meant to the audience.
But wait, there's more. To make matters worse, hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews dropped a bombshell during the show. They revealed there had been a voting glitch, which meant only online votes were counted and phone votes were disregarded. With such a significant error, many fans argued it was unfair to eliminate Danelle and urged Dancing with the Stars to bring her back. Instead, they suggested making next week's show a double elimination to level the playing field. It was chaos, pure chaos.
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View this post on InstagramThat Quickstep by #TeamBlindFaith was aces! Thanks for being here tonight, @donnyosmond. 🎉 #DWTS
One fan expressed their frustration by tweeting, “@DancingABC, how about you do the right thing and bring @DanelleUmstead back on because of the phone glitch. Completely unfair that you still proceeded with the elimination!” Another user added, “Shame on Dancing With the Stars. It’s so rigged with people who are professional dancers. That stacks the deck against those who are not. I voted every night for Danelle, she’s an inspiration to all. I’m sorry America didn’t see that.” It's clear that Danelle's journey resonated deeply with viewers.
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Morning After: Danelle and Artem Reflect on Their Journey
The following morning, Danelle, 46, and Artem, 36, appeared on Good Morning America to discuss their brief but impactful time on Dancing with the Stars. Danelle opened up about her emotions, saying, “I’m still a bit emotional. Four dances in two weeks — it was tough and I put a lot of work into it and Artem put a lot of work into me. I wish we had the opportunity to do it a little longer.” You could hear the sincerity in her voice, and it was evident how much this experience meant to her.
Artem also took to Instagram to express his gratitude towards Danelle. He wrote, “It’s really hard to put in words how I feel. Humble, sad, and inspired at the same time. Watching a blind woman cry is truly heartbreaking.” His heartfelt message continued, “@Danelle, you’ve touched so many people out there with your spirit, determination, and love, you made me appreciate life and not take it for granted, you made me a better teacher and a better person. I will always remember that. Stay who you are and never change you making impossible possible!” It’s clear that working with Danelle left a lasting impression on Artem.
View this post on InstagramIt’s really hard to put in words how I feel. Humble, sad and inspired at the same time. Watching a blind woman cry is truly heartbreaking. @danelleumstead you’ve touched so many people out there with your spirit determination and love, you made me appreciate life and not take it for granted, you made me a better teacher and a better person. I will always remember that. Stay who you are and never change you making impossible possible!
A Journey Unlike Any Other
After her first performance on Dancing with the Stars, Danelle spoke to Entertainment Tonight about her incredible experience. “It was beautiful and exciting and scary and everything put into a beautiful package, thanks to Artem,” she gushed. As a Paralympian who lost her sight due to retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disorder, Danelle faced unique challenges on the show. Yet, she embraced every moment with grace and determination.
She elaborated on her partnership with Artem, saying, “Artem is guiding me 100 percent. I feel it in his touch, I feel it in his movement, and his words. So he’s painting me a picture all the time, whether it’s through words or through feeling, and it’s a beautiful thing.” With four years to train for the Paralympics, Danelle and Artem only had a week to prepare for their performances. “It’s intense. I push myself sometimes a little too hard, and I’m a perfectionist. I’m always thinking I can do better,” she admitted.
Artem's Perspective
Artem, a seasoned pro on Dancing with the Stars since Season 19 in 2014, shared his thoughts on working with Danelle. “Coming into this, I did not know what to do, honestly. It’s me trying things and seeing if it works, it’s a bit of trial and error for both of us. And it’s a journey for Danelle as much as a journey for myself, because I never thought I would have an opportunity to teach a blind person how to dance.” He added, “It’s me re-learning how to choreograph and challenging myself as a coach. You don’t get opportunities like that all the time.” We’ll certainly miss watching Danelle on the show.
