Giada De Laurentiis Exits ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Giada De Laurentiis has left Dancing With the Stars after the second week of Season 35. The chef and her professional partner, Alan Bersten, were eliminated at the end of Tuesday’s Viral Hits Night broadcast, leaving 13 couples in the competition.

The pair performed a salsa to Becky G’s version of “Bella Ciao.” Their routine earned 12 points out of 30, tying the lowest judges’ score of the evening. De Laurentiis acknowledged before the performance that the process had been challenging, but she remained willing to work through the discomfort and attempt a more demanding routine.

A difficult salsa brought an early exit

The judges saw effort in the performance but wanted more confidence and power. De Laurentiis had trouble settling into parts of the choreography, particularly after the lifts, and the routine never fully found the ease required for a salsa.

Her departure came after a night built around songs that recently gained traction on social media. The episode also marked the first time all of the remaining Season 35 contestants competed during the same live show, following a two-night premiere week.

New contenders moved forward

Elsewhere in the ballroom, Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy scored 21 out of 30 for their jive. Paralympian Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach matched that total with a cha-cha that drew strong praise from the judges, helping both couples establish momentum early in the season.

Harry Shum Jr., who had been among the premiere’s leaders, received 18 points for a Viennese waltz. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas followed their strong opening week with 19 points for a cha-cha, while several middle-of-the-pack couples showed enough improvement to avoid the bottom of the field.

De Laurentiis entered the competition outside her familiar world of food television and said the experience pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Her short run ended with a demanding live performance rather than a safe choice, giving her final appearance a clear sense of risk even if the result did not keep her in the ballroom.

The remaining couples return next Tuesday for Yacht Rock Night, when another elimination will further narrow the Season 35 cast.