Dancing With the Stars Season 34’s TikTok Night Shocks Fans With an Unexpected Elimination

There are moments on Dancing With the Stars when the glitz, glamour, and choreography fade into the background—leaving only emotion, surprise, and the unmistakable hush of disbelief. Season 34’s third week, themed around the ever-evolving world of TikTok, was supposed to be a celebration of modern rhythms, viral moves, and digital-age creativity. Instead, it became a night remembered for a sudden, shocking elimination that left one contestant visibly furious and the audience gasping.

For most of the night, the stage sparkled as the celebrity dancers and their professional partners brought viral trends to the ballroom. The music pulsed with some of TikTok’s most recognizable hits, from upbeat pop tracks to soulful remixes, and each performance was met with cheers from fans who had waited all week to see their favorites perform live. But as the final scores were tallied and the tension built toward elimination, few in the studio—or at home—expected the outcome that unfolded.

A Night Built Around TikTok’s Biggest Hits

Week 3 of the ABC competition took on a distinctly Gen Z flair. Themed “TikTok Night,” the episode blended the show’s classic ballroom elegance with the playful, fast-paced energy of the world’s most popular social media platform. From viral dance challenges to nostalgic pop anthems, the soundtrack alone made fans nostalgic for the app’s most iconic moments.

Celebrities who had spent weeks mastering the waltz and foxtrot now found themselves adapting to a new challenge—translating modern social media choreography into refined ballroom storytelling. The crowd responded with energy that matched the music, cheering each routine as if watching a live concert.

Throughout the night, the dance floor saw performances that fused ballroom grace with pop-culture spectacle. Some couples thrived under the pressure, commanding the stage with newfound confidence. Others, though, faltered just enough to catch the judges’ critical eye. And as every longtime DWTS viewer knows, one weak night can mean the end of the road—no matter how strong the previous weeks were.

A Shocking End to an Energetic Episode

As the music faded and the final commercial break ended, hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro returned to the stage to deliver the results—an announcement that would leave the ballroom visibly shaken.

The bottom three couples stood under the lights:

• Andy Richter and Emma Slater,

• Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong,

• Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten.

The tension was palpable. The studio audience shifted in their seats, whispers rippling through the crowd as the contestants held hands and waited. Few believed the next name called would be among the night’s most talked-about stars.

When it was revealed that Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong were the pair heading home, gasps echoed through the room. Cameras panned across the stunned faces of fellow dancers. Even the judges looked momentarily taken aback.

“Pissed”: Lauren Jauregui’s Unfiltered Reaction

As the audience remained in shock, Jauregui’s immediate response was raw and real. When host Julianne Hough asked how she felt about her elimination, the former Fifth Harmony singer didn’t hesitate.

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“Pissed,” she said bluntly, her tone calm but her eyes filled with emotion.

That one word—honest, direct, and charged—instantly became the defining soundbite of the night. Viewers online quickly latched onto it, turning it into one of the episode’s most replayed moments across social media. Some called it iconic; others called it heartbreaking.

But behind that single word was a wave of disappointment. For Jauregui, who had impressed both fans and judges in the first two weeks of the competition, the elimination was unexpected. She and Armstrong had consistently landed near the top of the leaderboard earlier in the season, and even though Week 3 didn’t bring their strongest scores, few expected their journey to end so soon.

From Strong Start to Sudden Exit

Before TikTok Night, Jauregui and Armstrong were widely considered one of the competition’s most promising duos. Their chemistry on the dance floor was undeniable, their routines full of rhythm and emotional expression. Fans had begun rooting for Jauregui as a breakout performer—someone who was growing not just as a dancer, but as a storyteller.

Their cha cha performance this week, set to Fifth Harmony’s hit “Work From Home” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, was meant to be a playful nod to Jauregui’s pop roots. The number began with her sitting at a table surrounded by dancers portraying her former bandmates—Normani, Ally Brooke, and Dinah Jane—a creative homage that delighted long-time Fifth Harmony fans.

But despite the nostalgia, the judges were not entirely convinced.

“I really like the way you move,” Carrie Ann Inaba told Jauregui after the performance. “I want to see a lot more pop in your step. … I want more dynamics. I want more of the life force to come out of you. Don’t be afraid to hit it and quit it.”

Judge Derek Hough echoed that sentiment, encouraging Jauregui to channel more “fire” in her Latin dances. “You have a wonderful lyrical quality,” Bruno Tonioli added. “But sometimes you have to hit and show the beat through your body—like you would with your voice.”

Their total: 18 out of 30.

The Fine Line Between “Safe” and “Sent Home”

That score—tied with comedian Andy Richter’s 18/30 for his foxtrot to Northern Attitude by Hozier and Noah Kahan—landed Jauregui and Armstrong at the bottom of the leaderboard. And while DWTS history has shown that low scores don’t always lead to elimination, this week, it did.

For some fans, it was a reminder that Dancing With the Stars is as unpredictable as ever. Online reaction was swift and passionate, with social media users expressing frustration over Jauregui’s exit and questioning the voting dynamics. “Lauren didn’t deserve that,” one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “She’s been improving every week!” Another fan added, “She was bringing something new to the show—authentic emotion and connection. I’m genuinely shocked.”

Others praised her authenticity, especially for her candid “pissed” remark, calling it one of the “realest” reactions the show has seen in years.

Grace in Goodbye

Despite her disappointment, Jauregui still managed to end her DWTS journey with grace. As the credits rolled, she turned to thank her partner, Brandon Armstrong, for guiding her through weeks of rehearsals and performances.

“I’m so grateful,” she said, holding back tears. “I’ve learned so much about myself and about dance. And I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”

Armstrong, clearly emotional himself, hugged Jauregui tightly as other contestants approached to offer support. The two stood surrounded by fellow dancers and celebrities who looked equally surprised to be saying goodbye so early in the competition.

It was a bittersweet moment—one that encapsulated the emotional rollercoaster that Dancing With the Stars has built its legacy on.

The Season So Far: Highs, Lows, and Double Eliminations

Jauregui and Armstrong’s exit marks the third elimination of DWTS Season 34. It follows last week’s dramatic double elimination, which sent home both Baron Davis and Britt Stewart, as well as Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson.

Each week, the stakes grow higher as the field narrows and the remaining contestants—ranging from comedians to athletes to recording artists—fight for their place in the competition.

Season 34 has already been praised for its blend of nostalgia and innovation. The inclusion of TikTok Night was seen as a clever nod to the way modern audiences engage with dance today—through short, viral clips rather than long performances. But it also raised questions about how social media popularity may influence fan voting.

With Jauregui gone, the show loses one of its most relatable contestants—a young artist balancing confidence and vulnerability on live television.

What Comes Next

As DWTS moves into Week 4, attention now turns to how the remaining contestants will adapt to the competition’s increasing intensity. Every misstep counts, and every fan vote matters more than ever.

For Jauregui’s supporters, the end of her Dancing With the Stars journey isn’t the end of her story—it’s a new chapter. Many have taken to social media urging her to release new music or even return to the show in a future season.

Meanwhile, Armstrong’s fans have praised his patience, professionalism, and creative choreography, which have consistently earned him admiration from viewers and fellow pros alike.

A Night to Remember

Dancing With the Stars Season 34’s TikTok Night will be remembered not just for its music and dazzling performances, but for the emotional moment that defined its ending.

A single word—“pissed”—captured the shock, disappointment, and raw honesty of a contestant who gave her all and still fell short. And while Jauregui’s time on the show may have ended sooner than expected, the emotion she brought to the ballroom ensured that her presence won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Because on Dancing With the Stars, every elimination tells a story—and this one, more than most, left the audience wanting just one more dance.