When Hilaria Baldwin and her partner Gleb Savchenko received the dreaded red light on Tuesday, fans of Disney Night erupted in disbelief. The episode aired at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and streamed live on Disney+, marking the fourth night of Season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
What Happened on Disney Night
The Disney‑themed showcase featured eleven celebrity‑pro dancer couples twirling to iconic songs from the Mouse House catalog. Among them, Alix Earle, the Miami‑born influencer, gave a Viennese Waltz to Lana Del Rey’s rendition of “Once a Dream” from *Maleficent* and earned her highest score of the season: 23 out of 30.
Meanwhile, the bottom three consisted of Baldwin & Savchenko, Andy Richter with Emma Slater, and Danielle Fishel paired with Pasha Pashkov. All three fell short of the 24‑plus points needed to feel safe.
Scoring Breakdown and Judges’ Feedback
Baldwin & Savchenko’s quickstep to the “Cantina Band” theme from *Star Wars: A New Hope* garnered a 23‑point total – technically a tie for fifth place, but the audience vote tipped the scales. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised them, saying, “Tonight, what I saw was you just dancing, fully in love with what you were doing. Not trying to prove anything, and it was beautiful.”
“I was looking for something wrong. I didn’t see it,” added Bruno Tonioli, while Derek Hough noted, “I wanted to see more quickstep in the choreography.” The mixed feedback left the couple scrambling for votes.
The Controversial Exit of Lauren Jauregui
Last week’s Episode 3 saw Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui paired with Brandon Armstrong eliminated despite an identical 18‑point score to Andy Richter. According to a TVLine recap, Jauregui’s choreography was tougher and her performance more polished, yet Richter’s upbeat personality swayed the public vote.
The episode sparked heated debate on Twitter, with some fans accusing the show of favoring “fan‑favorite” personalities over technical merit. The controversy added an extra layer of tension heading into Disney Night, as viewers wondered whether the judges’ scores or the home‑viewer vote would dominate the next elimination.
Standout Performances and Rising Stars
- Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy – Viennese Waltz, 23 points, the season’s highest score so far.
- Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik – Jazz to “Friend Like Me,” also 23 points.
- Jordan Spear & Ezra Taylor – Tango to “Anxiety,” 24 points, the week’s top mark.
These scores illustrate how tight the competition has become; a single point can mean staying in the game or heading home.
What’s Next: Dedication Night and the Road to the Mirrorball
The following Tuesday, October 15, the show will roll out “Dedication Night,” where each couple honors a person or cause that has shaped their life. Production notes released by the Palm Beach Post hint at emotional tributes ranging from family homages to charitable shout‑outs.
With nine couples left, the stakes are higher than ever. The ultimate prize – the iconic Mirrorball trophy – still feels a world away, but the margin for error has shrunk to a whisper.
Background: DWTS Season 34 So Far
Season 34 kicked off on September 16, 2025, featuring a fresh line‑up of celebrity contestants from music, comedy, sports, and social media. The show has maintained its live‑voting model across the Eastern and Central time zones, while episodes become available on Hulu the day after airing.
Early weeks saw surprise eliminations – most notably the departure of Lauren Jauregui – and intense battles between veteran pros like Val Chmerkovskiy and newer partners such as Pasha Pashkov. As the season approaches its November 25 finale, the narrative has shifted from novelty to survival, with each couple fighting for every digit of the judges’ scores and every viewer’s vote.
Key Facts
- Date of Disney Night: October 8, 2025
- Eliminated couple: Hilaria Baldwin & Gleb Savchenko
- Score for the quickstep: 23/30
- Next episode theme: Dedication Night (Oct 15)
- Season finale scheduled for November 25, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the audience vote affect Hilaria Baldwin’s elimination?
Even though Baldwin & Savchenko tied for fifth place with a 23‑point judges’ score, the live viewer vote fell short of the threshold needed to stay. The audience’s preference for Andy Richter’s upbeat vibe ultimately pushed the couple out of the competition.
What made Lauren Jauregui’s exit controversial?
Jauregui and Richter received identical 18‑point scores, but her choreography was deemed more demanding and her execution tighter. Critics argue the public vote favored Richter’s charisma over technical merit, sparking debate about the balance between judges’ scores and viewer influence.
Which couple earned the highest score on Disney Night?
Three couples – Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy, Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik, and Jordan Spear & Ezra Taylor – each posted a 23‑point total, tying for the episode’s top mark. No one surpassed 23 points that night.
What is the significance of Dedication Night for the remaining contestants?
Dedication Night gives each pair a chance to connect emotionally with the audience by honoring a personal influence. Strong, heartfelt stories often translate into votes, so the theme could shift the leaderboard dramatically as the season narrows.
Where can viewers watch past episodes of Season 34?
Episodes air live on ABC and Disney+ each Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, then become available for on‑demand streaming on Hulu the following Wednesday.