Celebrity
‘DWTS’ Season 34 Winner Revealed After Nail-biting Finale — But Fans Say It Was A “robbery”
As they competed for the prized Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, the surviving competitors danced through three rounds with flawless performances.
On Tuesday, November 25, the “Dancing with the Stars” (“DWTS”) season 34 finale was shown, and a winner was declared. Fans’ reactions to the revelation of the new champions were divided; some believed their favourites had been defrauded, while others felt the winners deserved it.
Three Rounds, One Night of Fierce Competition
Robert Irwin won the Mirrorball Trophy, following in his sister Bindi’s footsteps from ten years before. During the season 34 finale, the animal conservationist and his professional dancing partner, Witney Carson, were declared the winners.
The climax was a spectacular performance by Irwin and Carson. They faced fierce competition from fellow finalists Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, and Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy because of their impressive performances.
Together with their professional partners, the finalists each gave three dance performances. Judges’ Choice, Instant Dancing, and Freestyle were among them. Under the judges’ guidance and coaching, the couples performed a final ballroom or Latin dance style in the Judges’ Choice round.
The participants’ ability to improvise was next put to the test in the Instant Dance round, where they had just minutes to master their song and dance style. In the Freestyle round, the couples finally gave it their all, contributing their inventiveness and vigour to the legendary final performance.
During the live simulcast of the finale, fans had the opportunity to cast their votes. The Mirrorball Trophy winner was determined by combining the judges’ scores with the results of the live viewer votes.
Robert Irwin Claims the Mirrorball Trophy with a Stunning Win
To win the championship, Irwin and Carson gave it their all on the dance floor. They gave a spirited Quickstep to Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” during the Judges’ Choice round. After that, they dazzled the crowd with a freestyle performance to Avicii’s “The Nights” and Sam Sparro’s “Black & Gold.”
During the Instant Dance part, the pair also performed a Cha Cha to “Cake by the Ocean” to demonstrate their rhythm. Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro declared the standings when it was finally time to make the results public. Efron and Karagach came in fourth, while Elaine and Bersten came in fifth. Third place went to Chiles and Sosa.
Irwin and Carson, as well as Earle and Chmerkovskiy, both garnered more votes than any other person has ever received on “DWTS.” The difference between them “is one of the tightest” they have ever seen in a finale, according to judge Julianne Hough. In the end, Ribeiro declared Irwin and Carson to be the new “DWTS” champions.
Fans Cry Foul over Finale Results
Online discussions were triggered by the announcement that Irwin and Carson had won the prize. Some fans expressed their displeasure without holding back, saying the outcome was unjust.
One wrote, “I witnessed a robbery and I am reporting it to the police [sic],” while another agreed, “Yeah you’re right. Let’s report Jordan’s robbery. She did have the best freestyle [sic].” A third person shared their different view, “Should’ve been Alix.” Another fan chimed in with sympathy, “Alix was robbed unfortunately.”
Others came to Irwin’s defense, insisting his win was well earned. One fan argued, “No you witnessed a robbery [sic],” while another praised his effort, “He came into DWTS with absolutely no dance experience at all and had fun and gave it his all. Definitely not a robbery.”
Many agreed that the environmentalist was a standout dancer, “America got it right. Robert came from zero dance experience and was crowned the winner rightfully so. Congrats Robert and Witney! Well deserved [sic].” The fan reactions highlighted just how divided viewers were over the winner of Season 34.
Tears, Pain, and Perseverance Behind the Mirrorball
Irwin was ecstatic about his victory despite the division. “My sister said it best: Thank you for changing my life!” Irwin poured. Carson added, “I’m so grateful for Robert, honestly — I already feel like I won with him as my friend and I can’t thank you enough.”
Before the finale, Witney Carson mentioned that Irwin had been dealing with rib pain, yet she thought he would keep preparing right up until the final minutes.
“11 weeks of crazy, vigorous, hard dancing. My body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now. Just trying to keep it together for, like, two more days. Literally today and tomorrow, and then it’s over,” said Carson.
She added that collaborating with Irwin during the season had been a fulfilling and significant experience.
A Father’s Legacy Woven Into Every Performance
Irwin sought methods to pay tribute to his late father, Steve Irwin, throughout the season. He revealed on Instagram on November 17 that he brings two emotional objects to rehearsals: a ring made out of the keys to the house he grew up in and one of his father’s shirts.
Irwin has worn that shirt to every rehearsal, even though it’s worn in places and has needed multiple repairs over time. “Each one of the tears and holes and missing buttons tells another story and this shirt definitely saw a lot. I guess it’s a good example for how dad lived his life: At 100%,” he shared.
The environmentalist also divulged, “Before you guys see my dance in costume, I’ve always done that dance — at least once — in dad’s shirt. It just keeps me close to home, keeps me close to him. It just feels like a big hug every time I put it on.”
What’s Next for the Wildlife Warrior?
Robert Irwin discussed his future plans after his victory. He revealed that his schedule starts to build up right away, starting with a trip to New York and then going to South Africa to shoot another project before returning home.
Additionally, he disclosed that Carson will accompany him to Australia for a portion of the next events. In response, Carson remarked, “You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
It has been an extraordinary journey for the pair, and Irwin summed it up best when he said, “I’ve been able to write my own legacy with Witney as we tell stories of positivity, vulnerability, passion and fun.”
The environmentalist added. “I’m a proud Wildlife Warrior, and I’ll always carry on my dad’s mission. I’m so grateful that I can do that in the ballroom.”
Irwin gave powerful performances and highlighted his environmentalist beliefs throughout the season. He demonstrated that he could follow his passions and be a great dancer at the same time.
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