The Dancing With the Stars fandom is divided after Lauren Jauregui and pro Brandon Armstrong were sent packing during week 3 of season 34.
Jauregui, 29, and Armstrong, 31, were eliminated during the Tuesday, September 30, episode of the ballroom dance competition, which saw the couples taking on viral trends and popular TikTok songs. Jauregui and her pro partner performed a cha-cha to her Fifth Harmony song “Work From Home,” which earned a rousing applause from the studio audience.
The judges, however, had some constructive feedback for the former girl group star. Jauregui and Armstrong earned 18 points out of 30, landing at the bottom of the leaderboard with Andy Richter and Emma Slater.
At the end of TikTok Night, it was announced that Jauregui and Armstrong were not voted through to the next round. Like Jauregui herself — who admitted she was “pissed” before the live show ended — some DWTS fans weren’t too pleased with the result.
“They NEED to bring back the judges save because what the actual f***? justice for lauren !!!!” one viewer wrote via X on Tuesday.
Another agreed, writing, “DWTS getting rid of the judges’ save was a disastrous move and tonight’s elimination proved that…Also the system where they combined the scores and votes is seriously flawed and makes it very easy for the viewers to overpower the judges’ scores.”
Brandon Armstrong, Lauren Jauregui, Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough Photo by Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
A third fan suggested that the judges should choose which of the bottom two couples goes home, instead of the elimination being based on votes.
The judges’ save system was in place from season 28 to season 32, allowing Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and the late Len Goodman to decide which pairs to keep in the competition. The rule was implemented following Bobby Bones‘ controversial season 27 win, which saw him and Sharna Burgess taking home the mirrorball trophy despite receiving lower scores than their competitors.
In a 2024 interview with TVLine, executive producer Deena Katz explained why the DWTS team did away with the rule.
“I think it should be about America,” she said. “And at the end of the day, the judges’ save sometimes isn’t what America wanted. And [eliminations are based on] half the judges and half America voting, and so that’s kind of the reason we did it.”
While some Dancing With the Stars contestants are understandably eliminated for their two left feet, other entrants are sent home far too early. The voting system got an overhaul for season 28, following the controversial victory of radio host Bobby Bones one season prior, but the changeup didn’t stop formidable competitors from leaving the ballroom. […]
At the time, Katz said there were no concrete plans to reintroduce the save, noting, “I don’t know if we’re bringing it back.”
Fans weren’t the only ones shocked to see Jauregui leave the competition on Tuesday. Her fellow season 34 cast members also didn’t see the elimination coming.
“It’s sad to see anyone go,” Alan Bersten told Us Weekly exclusively after he and partner Elaine Hendrix were one of the final couples revealed to be safe. “I’m shocked Brandon and Lauren went home. But everyone deserves to be here, you know. Andy is incredible, and [he’s] just touching the hearts of America. You know, I feel like Elaine deserves to be here. Everyone deserves to be here. And it’s just a really tough season.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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