Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong were eliminated on Sept. 30, 2025, sparking emotional reactions and online controversy.

On the September 30, 2025, episode of Dancing with the Stars, Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong were eliminated, sparking emotional reactions. Whitney Leavitt was seen celebrating her survival, which drew criticism online for appearing insensitive. Danielle Fishel, visibly upset, turned away from Leavitt, prompting speculation of a feud. Fishel later clarified she was processing the emotional moment and comforting eliminated teammates, not dismissing Leavitt, and confirmed no rift exists. She also revealed she competed with a tendon injury. The episode aired on ABC and Disney+ and was available on Hulu the next day.