Part 2
[Tea · Reality TV] Not every "Dancing with the Stars" elimination ends in tears and a quick exit. This week's ended with a designer bag. "Witney Carson" trended on Google in the US (2000+) after she showed off the thank-you present from her celebrity partner, Guillermo Rodriguez.
The elimination
Guillermo, the longtime "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" sidekick, and pro dancer Witney Carson were eliminated during the show's Super Bowl Night episode in Week 5, which aired October 13. The X news summary of that night's results lists Guillermo and Witney as the couple sent home while others, including Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, advanced.
The gift
According to People and Parade, Guillermo and his family gave Witney a small, baby-blue quilted Dior bag after the exit. Witney showed it off backstage at "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on October 14 and captioned her post: "Gift from Guillermo and fam why is he the sweetest!"
Neither of them said what it cost. Comparable small Lady Dior-style bags are listed at several thousand dollars on Dior's site, which is part of why the gesture got so much attention.
Why fans loved it
Pro dancers spend weeks of long rehearsal days teaching celebrities who often have no dance background. A partner who says thank you in style stands out. Fans in the comments mostly called it wholesome. Some joked about which celebrity they'd want to be partnered with next season.
The rest of the week
It was a busy night on the ballroom floor. Julia Stiles recreated her famous "Save the Last Dance" routine with pro Ezra Sosa. She brought out the folding chair, and her former co-star Sean Patrick Thomas appeared in the background. They scored 33 out of 40. Tatyana Ali danced a salsa to Kendrick Lamar's "Squabble Up" with Jan Ravnik and earned 29 out of 40.
Social media also lit up over a "lift" debate among the pros. We couldn't verify the details from a primary source, so we're leaving it out until there's a clear on-record account.
What's next
"Dancing with the Stars" continues with the remaining couples. We'll keep tracking the eliminations, the drama and any more surprise gifts in our DWTS tag.
Quick facts
- Couple: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
- Eliminated: Week 5, Super Bowl Night (aired October 13)
- Gift: a baby-blue quilted Dior bag from Guillermo and his family
- Revealed: October 14, backstage at "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
- Witney's caption: "Gift from Guillermo and fam why is he the sweetest!"
Whether you think it's sweet or over the top, it's one of the nicer ways a reality-TV run has ended this season.