‘Dancing With the Stars’: Witney Carson Admits She Was ‘Blindsided’ by Milo Manheim’s Loss

Witney Carson is still haunted by one Dancing With the Stars season. In 2018, she and Milo Manheim finished in second place behind Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess in perhaps the most controversial finale of the show’s history.

“Honestly, I think about that season a lot,” Carson told TV Insider. “And I think that was the first time I was really blindsided because I thought he had it. I thought that he was totally going to win. Usually I can tell by, sometimes even by Week 1, who’s going to win. So I kind of had it in my mind, and when we didn’t win, it was like a gut punch.”

However, the longtime pro dancer said the ending “happened for a reason” because of the way Manheim’s success “kind of shot up” afterwards. “I think people were so angry about him losing that they were like, ‘We’re going to do everything to make sure that he is successful,'” she theorized. “So it kind of all worked out. What can you do?”

Carson, who is confirmed to be dancing with Guillermo Rodriguez for Season 35, has had 15 partners on the show over the years. “I have been blessed to have so many amazing partners and that’s the beauty of being on a show like this for a decade, over a decade,” she smiled. “I actually just talked to Milo the other day. He’s in Spain filming Tangled, which is so, so cool. I’m so, so proud of him. If anyone deserves success, it’s Milo.”

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She also said she still keeps in good touch with Frankie Muniz, whom she was partnered with for Season 25. They finished in third place. Of course, her two Mirrorball champions, Alfonso Ribeiro and Robert Irwin, are also both still in her life, too. “I keep in touch, really, with all of them,” Carson admitted. “I’ve been very blessed to have incredible, kind, good partners.”

Dancing With the Stars, Season 35 Premiere, Tuesday, September 15, 8/7c, ABC