‘Dancing With the Stars’ Recap: A Shocking Elimination & 2 Stars Tied at the Top (VIDEOS)

[WARNING: This post contains MAJOR spoilers from Dancing With the Stars Season 34, Week 3.]

The competition got even more intense during Episode 3 of Dancing With the Stars Season 34. During the Tuesday, September 30, episode, the remaining 12 pairs hit the dance floor once again to perform routines to songs that have gone viral on TikTok. Judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli offered their critiques and gave the contestants their scores.

One person was eliminated at the end of the episode based on viewer votes and the judges’ scores. Scroll down for a recap of all the performances, including everyone’s scores, judges’ critiques, and who was sent home.

Jen Affleck — 19/30

For her Week 3 cha-cha-cha, Jen Affleck performed to “She’s a Bad Mama Jama,” which is the same song she previously went viral for dancing to on TikTok. She threw it back to that viral video by starting the routine wearing a fake baby bump and hospital gown, then ripping it off to show off her sexy gold costume.

“Mamma mia! That was an easy delivery, wasn’t it? In, out, cha-cha-cha-, down, next! I’ve never quite seen anything like it, I have to say,” Tonioli said. However, he said Affleck needed a little bit more foot action and to be a bit “cleaner on the finish.” Inaba gushed, “You are such a hottie!” and said it was “so impressive” that she did that routine so soon after pregnancy. “But, there’s a little bit hyperextension going on in some of your moves,” she added.

Hough concluded the critiques by telling Affleck she gave a “great performance,” and warned her she needed to have straight legs and the “proper Cuban motion” in this particular dance. “Overall, I think your performance is starting to evolve and come out,” he concluded. Inaba gave the routine a 7, but Tonioli and Hough scored Affleck with 6s.

Lauren Jauregui — 18/30

Lauren Jauregui hit the dance floor next with a cha-cha-cha to her band Fifth Harmony’s song “Work From Home.” Of course, they threw in some original 5H choreography to the routine, as well.

“The way you move, I really like the way you move, you’re very in tune with your body,” Inaba said. “I want to see a lot more pop in your step. I just want you to hit certain things harder. I want more dynamics. I think you have it in you.” Hough said there’s “something beautiful” about the way Jauregui moves, but agreed with Inaba’s comments that she needs more “power” in her Latin moves.

“They’re absolutely right,” Tonioli added. “You have a wonderful lyrical quality. When you dance Latin … sometimes you have to hit the beat. Flow your body as you would do with your voice.” She received 6s from all three judges, which was down from last week.

Danielle Fishel — 21/30

After getting her first 7 last week, Danielle Fishel had even more to prove this time around (especially since she’s battling an injury). She performed a foxtrot to “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, her former Girl Meets World costar.

“You’re just so pleasant and refreshing. There’s a simplicity and a grace when you dance,” Hough said. “The control and the foxtrot fundamentals, thank you so much. One note tonight is that when you use your arms, use it from your ribcage. An extension from your ribcage. So your whole body moves.”

Toniolo praised Fishel for taking his past advice about watching her shoulders. He called the dance “lovely” and “elegant,” adding, “The TikTok did not take away from the style of the dance. It was incorporated beautifully.” Inaba agreed with her fellow judges and said the routine was “very beautiful,” but told Fishel she can “work a little bit on [her] body contact” in the future. She improved from her scores last week, earning 7s with all of the judges.

Jordan Chiles — 24/30

After her major improvements last week, Jordan Chiles returned with a tango to “Anxiety.” The response to the “really hard” routine was so overwhelming that Chiles got emotional afterwards.

“Don’t cry, your improvement has been astonishing. My baby has transformed into a stalking panther! Clean, clear, powerful, focused. Your best dance yet,” Tonioli raved. Inaba thanked Chiles for sharing her own story with anxiety. “That was an example of how to be smooth and fierce. Amazing again, my friend,” she added. Hough said he was “really impressed” with how Chiles kept her frame, despite her height difference with Sosa.

For the powerful routine, Chiles earned 8s from all three judges. The highest scores of the season so far!

Dylan Efron — 23/30

Dylan Efron‘s dance this week was a foxtrot to Justin Bieber‘s “Yukon.”

“I’m having a hard time scoring this. I am torn,” Inaba said. “There’s a beginner level group and then the advanced, showman entertain group. You are like the beginner group, but you are really learning the technique, and that’s the key to winning this season, in particular. You are really learning the technique.” Hough called the foxtrot “smooth as silk” and said he was impressed by Efron’s “control” and “stride” in the dance. “We do not see that. That was exceptional,” he raved.

Tonioli concluded the comments by calling Efron “smoldering” and said technically the dance was very impressive. Tonioli and Hough both gave Efron 8s, while Inaba scored the dance a 7, giving him his highest score yet.

Elaine Hendrix — 21/30

Elaine Hendrix hit the dance floor with a tango to “Gnarly.” Hough told Hendrix she is “badass” and said, “You are such a performance. You ignite that floor with so much energy, so much charisma.” However, he made sure to note she has to have a wider frame and watch her left shoulder.

“You got the nick of always getting the character right,” Tonioli said. “It’s a great, great quality. You are strong, you deliver, you’re sharp. Be careful. You’re using all of this to hang on. You shouldn’t. Use your core and free your top half to express.”

Inaba said Hendrix is “incredible, powerful, and strong,” but noted that she’s being “too independent,” instead of trusting her partner. Hendrix earned 7s from all three judges.

Whitney Leavitt — 24/30

For her TikTok dance, Whitney Leavitt performed a samba to “Shake Ya Ass.”

“What I really liked about that, when we talk about the samba, we want to see that elusive bounce, which is a continuous movement that hypnotizes you, and it’s so hard to get. You got it!” Tonioli confirmed. Inaba said Leavitt “ate that dance up” and noted that she was “so in control every step of the way.”

Hough noted he was “kind of speechless” and said Leavitt is “mesmerizing.” Leavitt tied for the top of the leaderboard with three 8s from the judges (also her highest score so far).

Scott Hoying — 22/30

For TikTok week, Scott Hoying did a jazz routine to “Like Jennie.” His goal was to prove he could “take up space” on the dance floor, like Inaba suggested.

It definitely worked! “You just owned the floor,” Inaba raved. “You were the king of TikTok night. That was your element. I get so excited when you take a note and it goes well.” Hough said the performance was “red hot” and Tonioli praised the choreography by Rylee Arnold, as well. With an 8 from Inaba and 7s from Hough and Tonioli, Hoying got his highest scores of the season yet.

Hilaria Baldwin — 22/30

Hilaria Baldwin danced a samba to “Shake It to the Max (Fly).” The dance was particularly tough for her since she broke her hip in the past.

“Technically, you are in a league of your own,” Hough gushed. “It was rhythmic, vibrant.” He also said that the samba rolls in the routine were the “most beautiful” he’s ever seen on the show. Tonioli noted that “all the content was there” and “sharp.” However, he noted, “[You need] a little bit more bounce. It has to carry through so you link one step with the other with a touch more fluidity.”

Inaba noted that the late Len Goodman “would have loved that samba,” and said Baldwin is a “sensational dancer.” However, she said the musicality was “off” and that it threw off the routine. Baldwin earned her first 8, from Hough, and 7s from Tonioli and Inaba.

Andy Richter — 18/30

After falling toward the bottom of the leaderboard last week, Andy Richter was saved by fan votes. He returned with a foxtrot to “Northern Attitude.”

“You have such natural charm. It’s so difficult to resist you. But I have to say tonight, you actually put much, much more content in the routine. Don’t get carried away. It still needs a lot of work, but little steps in the right direction,” Tonioli said.

Inaba said Richter should “definitely feel love” and praised him for “completely giving us your heart.” “Dancing With the Stars started out as a show with people who had no dance experience learning this art form and learning to express themselves,” she pointed out. “You do have a ways to go, but I really love watching you.”

Richter received 6s from all three of the judges, which is his best score yet.

Robert Irwin — 22/30

After topping the leaderboard for the first two weeks, Robert Irwin wanted to keep that spot with his salsa to “Million Dollar Baby.”

“You are a really great performer,” Inaba said. “Great performance.” However, she sounded like she wanted to give some criticism, but decided to cut herself off.

Hough did weigh in, though. “The musicality was spot on but it was stiff,” Hough pointed out. Even though he was booed, he pointed out that the salsa content wasn’t fully there. “Wonderful performance,” Tonioli agreed. “You were working to your strengths and it works, but it’s so competitive, and we cannot let people go on certain details. The salsa wasn’t quite there.”

Despite the critiques, Irwin earned an 8 from Inaba and 7s from Tonioli and Hough.

Alix Earle — 23/30

For the final dance of the night, Alix Earle did a quickstep to “Pop Muzik,” and got some choreography tips from the original TikTok dancers who made the song go viral.

“The way you glide across that floor effortlessly. It felt fresh, it felt fun. You are a fantastic performer.” He did have some notes about her frame, though, but noted it was a message for everyone in the cast.

“It was truly a sparkling performance,” Tonioli said. “Thank you for putting all the steps in that are required. It was clear and evident, darling, you are a contender.” Inaba noted that it was a “difficult dance,” and said it was Earle’s best routine so far. She gave the dance an 8, and so did Tonioli, but Hough gave it a 7. Overall, still Earle’s best score.

Dancing With the Stars Week 3 leaderboard

Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: 24/30
Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: 24/30
Alix Earle & Valentin Chmerkovskiy: 23/30
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: 23/30
Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold: 22/30
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: 22/30
Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko: 22/30
Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: 21/30
Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov: 21/30
Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik: 19/30
Lauren Jauregui & Brandon Armstrong: 18/30
Andy Richter and Emma Slater: 18/30

Who went home on Dancing With the Stars Week 3?

The pair who was eliminated is: Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong. They received the lowest scores and votes. Richter and Hendrix were also in the last three teams to get their results, although they were not necessarily in the bottom three, as the results were not read in order.

Dancing With the Stars, Season 34, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+ (Streaming Next Day on Hulu)

For a more extended celebration of two decades of Dancing With the Stars, from exclusive interviews to retrospectives and must-see photos, pick up a copy of TV Guide Magazine’s Dancing With the Stars 20th Anniversary special issue, available for purchase online at DWTS.TVGM2025.com and on newsstands now.