10 Times Dancing with the Stars Sabotaged the Cast

Top 10 Times Dancing with the Stars Sabotaged the Cast

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the behind-the-scenes decisions on Dancing with the Stars that seemed designed to trip up the cast.

#10: Poor Theme Night Choices

We have two words for you: TikTok Night. Cringing already? Same. Sure, TikTok is huge for dance, and plenty of contestants have viral cred. But those dances thrive on personality and accessibility, not the technique, precision, and artistry Ballroom and Latin demand. When the show tried to mash them together, the result felt like pandering with viral moves and trending songs that cheapened the choreography. What should’ve been strong, disciplined routines became watered-down TikTok bait. The night reeked of gimmickry, chasing views instead of celebrating skill. And no one felt that mismatch more than Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong, whose potential got buried under a theme that didn’t deserve them.

#9: Misleading Rehearsal Narratives

While “DWTS” is a dance competition, it’s also reality TV. Producers are ultimately driven by ratings, drama, and storytelling, often at the expense of fairness or truth. Contestants get edited into characters: the underdog, the diva, the villain, the star, when often there's a lot more to it. Rehearsal footage gets chopped to highlight frustration, tears, or tension, twisting normal stress into “meltdowns.” Genuine progress or sweet moments barely make the cut because, well, drama sells. Some pairs get framed to shine, while others are sacrificed for a juicier plot twist. It keeps viewers hooked, but it also wrecks reputations, confidence, and sometimes entire partnerships. All in the name of “good TV.”

#8: Showmance Pressures

When two attractive people spend weeks dancing in such close quarters, it feels almost inevitable that sparks will fly. Producers seem to love a “showmance” because it gives audiences something to invest in off the dance floor. But while we might not all know our Cucarachas from our Chassés, we can all understand chemistry. Sometimes that becomes the main draw over skill, progress, and hard work. It can skew judging, invite tabloid drama, and even drum up fan backlash. By the time the season milks the storyline dry, the “relationship” has usually fizzled. Even if they win the mirrorball, the pair still has to handle the fallout of the inevitable break-up that follows.

#7: Controversial Casting

Imagine you’re a celeb, you’ve signed up for “DWTS” and you can’t wait to learn a whole new skill. Then you find out your season includes a “headline hire,” someone like Ryan Lochte, Anna Delvey, or Sean Spicer. Your heart sinks. You just know that no matter how hard you train, the spotlight will drift toward controversy instead of choreography. Sean Spicer’s stint in Season 28 proved it. Fans were outraged that the show gave him that platform, and even then-host Tom Bergeron publicly voiced his disappointment. Yet Spicer still made it to Week 9 despite hovering at the bottom of the leaderboard. Meanwhile, more talented performers were sent packing before their time.

#6: Hough vs. Hough

When Julianne Hough joined the judging panel in Season 19, a lot of people raised eyebrows. Her brother Derek was one of the pros, and the question was obvious: could she really be objective? Honestly, could any of us not lean toward favoritism if we were in her dance shoes? Julianne insisted that growing up in the competitive dance world alongside Derek would actually make her “even harder on him.” Sure, but that doesn’t exactly sound fair to his partners, does it? Whatever way you slice it, having one sibling judge another had the potential to put Derek’s partners at a disadvantage and create an uneven playing field for everyone else.

#5: Tom Bergeron’s Unexpected Departure

It’s not just the dancing pairs who can get sabotaged on “DWTS,” as one shocking announcement showed. On Cheryl Burke’s podcast, Tom Bergeron revealed the circumstances behind his departure: he wanted to keep the show a safe space for viewers but felt blindsided when producers suddenly reversed course without consulting him. Even worse, it seemed they valued their “headline hire” more than his years of service. Erin Andrews ended up collateral damage as well. When Tyra Banks stepped in, many fans felt she was a mismatch, and that’s putting it politely. Even pairing her up with a co-host didn't seem to help. After three seasons, the backlash took its toll, and she stepped down.

#4: Picking Songs That Don't Go with the Dance

It might seem like a small detail, but song choice can make or break a routine. With celebs, pros, and producers all trying to shoehorn tracks into themed weeks, those decisions matter more than ever. Musical director Ray Chew says it’s usually a group discussion, but as former pro Kym Johnson admitted, producers get the final say. Chew noted pros can be “very specific” about arrangements. Well, when you’re turning “Return of the Mack” into a samba, you kind of have to be. Fans were outraged when Ilona Maher got stuck with a salsa to “Da’ Dip.” And, who thought a rumba to “Seasons of Love” was a good idea? No wonder Maks lost it!

#3: Casting Celebrities with Prior Dance Experience

You can watch “DWTS” anywhere, and this debate always comes up. Look, Ballroom and Latin are so different from other dance styles. Some say trained dancers must unlearn habits to master new techniques. True. But their experience still gives them a leg up over true novices, so it’s never a totally fair game. Part of the show’s appeal is watching absolute newbies improve each week. Casting ringers dilutes that core idea and makes the show feel less authentic. Additionally, audiences tend to save their votes for the underdogs, resulting in some surprising eliminations. No matter your stance on the issue, surely we can agree: the line should be drawn at contestants with actual ballroom experience.

#2: Voting by East Coast

Like any televised competition, “DWTS” has long faced allegations of vote rigging. One of the biggest headaches for viewers, though, is the show’s live timing: it’s produced and aired live for Eastern and Central time zones, but the voting window is short and simultaneous nationwide. That puts viewers in other time zones at a disadvantage, often forcing them to vote blindly or just pick someone they like or danced well previously. By the time the later performers finish, it’s too late to change votes. Sure, there are production reasons, but it does feel like dancers performing later are set up for an uphill battle. Seems rather unfair given all the hard work they put in.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Overloaded Double-Show Weeks

Even the Top-Scorers Can Feel Frazzled by That Much New Material in Such a Short Space of Time

Restrictive Costume Choices

A Well-Fitted Outfit Can Make a Huge Difference in How a Dancer Moves, but One Bad Outfit Can Really Throw Off a Whole Number

Inconsistent Guest Judge Scoring

When Guest Judges Score for Entertainment, They’re Basically Doing the Audience’s Job & It Can Throw the Real Scoring Off

#1: “Switch-Up Night”

Season 18 introduced “Switch-Up Night,” where pairs got shuffled for a week. The idea apparently came from Derek Hough, though many of his fellow pros weren’t fans. Maks, who was dancing with Meryl Davis at the time, was, of course, the most outspoken, calling it a move to “sabotage the show.” He kinda had a point. Pros had spent weeks figuring out their partners’ strengths, only to have to start from scratch. It wasn’t easy on celebs either, who now had to adjust to totally different teaching styles. Plus, there was the risk of throwing off scoring averages. The one upside: No one got eliminated. And thankfully, this gimmick was shelved after a few seasons.

Which celeb or pro did you feel fell victim to some backstage sabotage? Let us know in the comments