Danielle Fishel Was Surprised by Whitney’s Win on Dancing With the Stars

Danielle Fishel was impressed by Whitney Leavitt’s Dancing With the Stars semi-finals act — but that didn’t mean the mirrorball trophy was a sure win for her.

“I didn’t think Whitney would take home the trophy on Dancing With the Stars, even though she’s undoubtedly one of the best dancers,” Fishel, 44, commented on her eponymous iHeartRadio podcast following the live show on Tuesday, November 18. “The way the narrative was structured, especially with the season premiere of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives airing this week, it felt like… if we consider reality TV as a storytelling medium, the most compelling story was for Whitney to go home tonight.”

In both her rehearsal segments and Mormon Wives season 3 confessionals, Leavitt, 32, admitted she returned to MomTok solely for the opportunity to audition for DWTS.

“Her desire to participate in Dancing With the Stars was evident in the premiere episode, and the way that was portrayed in her package and discussed in the skybox made for some of the most captivating television,” Fishel remarked, emphasizing the power of honesty in storytelling related to one’s dreams.

The Boy Meets World alum added, “I had a nagging feeling throughout the day that it could be Whitney’s time to go, and I hoped I was wrong — but unfortunately, I was right.”

Leavitt and her professional partner Mark Ballas consistently dominated the leaderboard for most of season 34, but their journey ended on Tuesday as they were eliminated just before the finale.

“She was absolutely breathtaking,” Fishel reminisced on her podcast while reflecting on Leavitt’s performances. “Whitney is one of the most graceful dancers I’ve witnessed in my 20 years of watching Dancing With the Stars. She’s simply spectacular, no doubt about it.”

She continued, “You might not be a Whitney fan for any number of reasons, but you cannot deny her incredible talent, and Mark has truly elevated her.”

While Fishel wasn’t convinced Leavitt would secure the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, she was surprised that the reality star wouldn’t even get to showcase a freestyle in the finale.

“I’m shocked that Whitney isn’t in the finals,” Fishel, who had been eliminated from DWTS weeks prior, expressed on her podcast. “I genuinely believed she would reach the final round. … It’s clear she’s a performer. Anyone who watches this show knows that being the best dancer does not guarantee a win.”

As for Leavitt, she also sensed that her time in the ballroom might be coming to an end.

“We had a gut feeling it was going to be us,” Leavitt told E! News after her elimination. “It’s heartbreaking; it feels like a breakup because you form deep friendships with the production team, crew — especially with Mark. You spend so much time with these people daily, so it genuinely feels like a breakup. I’m sad, but I also leave with a grateful heart for the experience.”

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes becoming available the following day on Hulu.

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