Dancing With the Stars Surprise Elimination Twist Revealed Ahead of Season 35 Premiere

The landscape of reality television competition was shaken on September 16 as Dancing With the Stars launched its landmark Season 35 with an unforeseen twist during its two-night premiere event. Among the most talked-about developments of the opening week was the swift and controversial elimination of contestant Sarah Jane Nader and her professional partner, Hailey Bills. The sudden departure sent ripples through the ballroom, igniting widespread discussions online, drawing sharp critiques from family members, and sparking conversations about the historical significance of the pair’s short-lived partnership.

The elimination occurred during the second night of the premiere episodes, catching both the audience and the competitors off guard. Sarah Jane Nader, a 24-year-old personality and star of the reality series Love Thy Nader, entered the ballroom with high expectations and a unique distinction. Alongside professional partner Hailey Bills, Nader participated in only the second-ever all-female pairing in the history of Dancing With the Stars. Despite the historic nature of their partnership and the enthusiastic support from viewers tuning into the season premiere, the duo found themselves at the bottom of the elimination rankings, abruptly ending their journey before they could advance to week two of the competition.

Immediate Family Reactions and Public Outcry

The decision by the voting public and judges provoked an immediate and vocal reaction from Sarah Jane’s older sister, model Brooks Nader. Having previously competed on Season 33 of the dance competition alongside professional partner Gleb Savchenko, Brooks was intimately familiar with the grueling demands and high stakes of the ballroom. Unwilling to sugarcoat her perspective, Brooks took to social media shortly after the broadcast, bluntly commenting "Robbed" on an official E! News Instagram post detailing her sister’s early exit.

While Brooks expressed overt frustration, Sarah Jane maintained a notably more grounded and optimistic outlook regarding her brief tenure on the program. In a subsequent interview with Good Morning America following the premiere broadcast, the younger Nader reflected on the profound meaning behind her participation.

"As sad as we are to not dance next week—we were so excited—we’re just grateful we had this opportunity," Sarah Jane shared with the morning broadcast team. "Our partnership was so special. Not only because we became best friends, but because we represent a whole community."

Highlighting the cultural milestone of her appearance, she added, "Being the second ever all-female pairing on the dance floor is such an honor. I hope somebody watching at home felt touched or seen or represented tonight, and so I hope we’ve done something impactful. Even though we don’t get to do it more, it felt really good and it was a really fun experience."

Sibling Humor and Viral Social Media Pivots

True to the tight-knit and humorous dynamic showcased on their family-centric television projects, Sarah Jane’s sisters—Brooks, 29-year-old Mary Holland Nader, and 26-year-old Grace Ann Nader—wasted no time in turning the unexpected elimination into a lighthearted family joke. Rather than dwelling on the disappointment of a truncated run, the Nader sisters leaned into self-deprecating comedy across various digital platforms, quickly driving viral engagement.

Brooks utilized her Instagram Stories to share a humorous photograph featuring Mary Holland and Grace Ann sitting inside a production trailer, captioned with the candid remark: "We will never let her forget this s–t, it’s sooo funny."

The levity continued into the family’s post-show celebrations. Prior to the elimination, the sisters had commissioned custom-printed matching T-shirts bearing the campaign slogan "Vote For Sarah Jane." Following the broadcast results, the trio executed a rapid, tongue-in-cheek adjustment by physically crossing out the first two words with a marker. Documenting the moment on TikTok via Mary Holland’s profile, Brooks joked, "In times of need, we pivot!"

The comedic adaptation extended to a celebratory dinner reservation at Craig’s restaurant in Los Angeles, a popular celebrity hot spot. The establishment had prepared a custom menu header for the evening reading, "Sarah Jane and Hailey’s First Dance." Undeterred by the finality of the evening’s results, one of the sisters used a tube of lip liner to cross out the word "first" and replace it with "last." Sharing footage of the altered menu on TikTok, Mary Holland wryly narrated the evening as a "celebratory dinner after a long hard season."

A Star-Studded Season 35 Lineup

Despite the dramatic early exit of Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills, Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars boasts one of the most eclectic and anticipated rosters in the history of the franchise, featuring a diverse mix of actors, athletes, reality television personalities, and digital creators. The full pairing lineup for the milestone season showcases a broad spectrum of talent taking to the ballroom floor:

• Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: The celebrated star of 10 Things I Hate About You brings her cinematic presence to the competition, partnered with pro Ezra Sosa.
• Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten: The renowned celebrity chef trades her culinary tools for dance shoes, aiming to bring culinary flair to the ballroom.
• Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson: Known for his musical and dance background in Glee, the actor brings significant rhythm and performance expertise to his partnership with Jenna Johnson.
• Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart: The iconic 1990s pop heartthrob and Hanson band member looks to captivate a new generation of fans under the guidance of Britt Stewart.
• Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress brings classic television nostalgia and energetic performance skills alongside Jan Ravnik.
• Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: Marking a full-circle moment two decades after starring in the dance film Step Up, Dewan takes on the ultimate ballroom challenge with Val Chmerkovskiy.
• Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: Transitioning directly from elite athletics, the 2026 Olympic figure skater brings her ice-honed precision and grace to the hardwood floor alongside Pasha Pashkov.
• Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: A prominent Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete, Frech showcases elite athleticism and determination paired with Daniella Karagach.
• Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills: Although eliminated during the premiere, their historic all-female partnership leaves a lasting imprint on Season 35.
• Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold: The comedian, widely recognized under the social media moniker Fibula, aims to translate digital popularity into ballroom longevity with Rylee Arnold.
• Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman: Representing the reality sphere from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Leavitt follows in the footsteps of his wife, Whitney Leavitt, who competed in Season 34.
• Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess: The prominent Bachelor Nation personality trades traditional reality dating tropes for the intense physical discipline of the rumba and cha-cha.
• Jackson Olson and Emma Slater: The charismatic Savannah Bananas baseball player brings his signature athletic showmanship from the baseball diamond to the ballroom.
• Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson: The beloved fixture of Jimmy Kimmel Live! brings his signature humor and lighthearted energy to the competition under the instruction of Witney Carson.
• Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong: The Summer House star prepared extensively for her physical transformation, noting in pre-season interviews the rigorous conditioning required for ballroom endurance.
• Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: The Love Island UK alum realized a long-held manifestation goal, having famously dedicated entire vision boards to securing a spot on the franchise.

Broader Implications and Franchise Evolution

The swift elimination of a high-profile contestant like Sarah Jane Nader during the opening week underscores the unpredictable nature of reality television voting dynamics and judges’ scores. In a competition format that combines public fan engagement with technical expert evaluation, early losses often highlight the disconnect between internet popularity and live voting participation. Furthermore, the inclusion of historic milestones—such as the show’s second all-female pairing—demonstrates the ongoing evolution of Dancing With the Stars toward broader inclusivity and representation within mainstream entertainment formats.

As Season 35 progresses, the remaining couples must navigate increasingly difficult routines, genre adaptations, and elimination thresholds. While Sarah Jane Nader’s journey in the ballroom was cut unexpectedly short, her participation, combined with the viral humor of the Nader family and the expansive celebrity lineup, ensures that the premiere week of this milestone season will remain a memorable focal point in the cultural conversation surrounding competitive reality television.