Lele Pons Addresses Backlash After Surprising Elimination on ‘DWTS’

Lele Pons, Brandon Armstrong. ABC/Andrew Eccles

Lele Pons expressed her astonishment at the protests in favor of her following her elimination from Dancing With the Stars. Sharing images of the demonstrations in Los Angeles, displaying signs of encouragement for her and partner Brandon Armstrong, Pons, 27, wrote via X on Tuesday, November 14, "I can't believe there are people protesting whatttttt???? Love you seee you when I go back for the finals️ #dwts."

Pons and Armstrong, both aged 29, were eliminated from the competition series on November 7 during Music Video Night. Despite achieving a commendable third place that evening, the duo found themselves among the bottom three, along with Charity Lawson and Barry Williams. (Barry Williams, a 69-year-old former cast member of The Brady Bunch, was ultimately eliminated the following week.)

While Pons expressed her immense gratitude for the experience in her last moments on the ballroom floor, her partner's reaction was noticeably more emotional.

Armstrong confessed to hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough that the elimination of Lele was a disappointment. He believed that she was improving and had no previous dance experience, making her the perfect partner.

The unexpected outcome also surprised judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough. Inaba, aged 55, shared her thoughts on the shocking moment in the ballroom.

Lele Pons. ABC/Andrew Eccles

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly following the show, she expressed her shock and sadness over Lele's departure. She commended Brandon for his heartfelt words in the final moments, as they truly touched the viewers and showcased his love and support for his partner. She agreed with the sentiment that Lele deserved to stay, as her performance on the previous night was undoubtedly her best. Lele can leave with her head held high, knowing that she delivered an incredible performance she should be proud of.

Exactly one week after the elimination, Armstrong personally encountered the group of protesters when he arrived at the DWTS set on Tuesday.

He captioned a TikTok video of himself dancing with the fans, stating, "The sting of elimination feels a bit less painful now ️." The clip showcases fans holding signs demanding justice for Lele and Brandon, urging for Lele's return, and expressing their belief that she was unfairly eliminated.

In addition to Pons' elimination, there was another unexpected turn of events on this season of DWTS. Jamie Lynn Spears, despite not being ranked at the bottom or the top of the leaderboard, was eliminated during the second week of the competition.