The elimination of Britt Stewart and partner Taylor Hanson on September 29, 2026, has reignited a debate among the Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) audience regarding the fairness of the show’s elimination mechanics and the return of the “Judges’ Save” rule. During the Season 35 “Yacht Rock Night,” Stewart and Hanson were sent home after performing a foxtrot to “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers, despite earning a respectable 18 out of 30 from the judging panel.
The exit is being viewed by many as more than just a single-season disappointment; it highlights an instance where Stewart, the first Black female professional dancer in the series’ history, found her journey cut short despite her pair outscoring other contestants. While judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli offered praise for the performance, the ultimate result highlighted the current volatility of the show’s elimination mechanics.
The Scoring Gap and the Popularity Factor
The central frustration following the September 29 broadcast lies in the disparity between scores and survival. On the same night Stewart and Hanson were eliminated with their 18-point score, other couples, including Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, remained in the competition despite posting lower scores.
This outcome illustrates a challenge for Stewart. While she was the first Black female professional dancer to be cast on the series, her celebrity pairings must also secure the voting safety required to outlast contestants with larger built-in voting blocs. For fans, this creates a scenario where a high-caliber professional is sidelined while lower-scoring contestants remain in the competition.
According to E! Online, the elimination has prompted fellow professionals, including Sharna Burgess, to voice their support for Stewart and question the current rules. A significant portion of the outcry has focused on the absence of the “Judges’ Save”—a mechanic that previously allowed the panel to rescue a technically superior couple from the bottom two. Without this safety net, the show reverts to a popularity contest that often penalizes steady, mid-range growth in favor of viral personalities.
A Pattern of Early Exits
Since joining the professional ranks in 2020, Stewart’s trajectory has been marked by high fan engagement. Her most successful and emotionally resonant season remains Season 31, where she partnered with actor Daniel Durant. That partnership extended beyond the ballroom; the pair married on August 23, 2025, a milestone that cemented Stewart as a beloved figure in the show’s modern era.
However, outside of the Durant partnership, Stewart has faced early-to-mid-season eliminations, including this recent exit with Taylor Hanson. While she consistently maximizes the abilities of her partners—as seen with Taylor Hanson’s performance on his final night—it did not translate into a deep run toward the Mirrorball Trophy during Season 35.
The nature of the elimination suggests a point of contention in how the show balances its professional roster. If the goal is to see the best choreography on the floor during the finals, some viewers argue the current system is failing one of its most capable assets. For many viewers, the argument that Stewart “deserves better” isn’t just about winning; it’s about a casting and rules environment that provides a fair path for technical excellence to survive the early weeks of the competition.
