shock elimination© Photo: Getty Images

DWTS 2022 Prom Night: D'Amelios falter as shock elimination follows emotional exit

This was quite the episode!

Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
October 19, 2022

Dancing with the Stars kicked off the week in the most emotional way possible after Selma Blair withdrew due to continuing health troubles.

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After nabbing the season's first perfect score following her last performance, no duo was eliminated, but the sword fell on the latest episode.

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Prom Night was the theme for season's latest installment, and in a surprise twist, Joseph Baena was eliminated, despite never having scored in the bottom before.

He was also not the lowest scorer of the night nor with the past two performances combined, making the bottom placement even more of a shock.

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The decision also effectively knocked out his professional partner, Daniella Karagach, who was the reigning Mirrorball champ after winning season 30 with Iman Shumpert, blowing the competition wide open.

The judges cited this as being a "very hard" decision, but ultimately, Joseph only received Carrie Ann Inaba's vote to stay.

Joseph was the latest contestant eliminated

In the bottom with Joseph and Daniella and receiving the votes to stay were Heidi D'Amelio and Artem Chigvintsev, also a surprise given their relatively steady rise in the season as a dark horse duo.

It proved to be a tough night for both D'Amelios, as her daughter Charli was finally knocked from the top of tonight's leaderboard by close competitors Wayne Brady and Gabby Windey.

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After obtaining a near-perfect 39 on night one, Charli and Mark Ballas scored a 38 on Prom Night, while Wayne and Gabby nailed perfect 40s, firsts for a duo still in the competition this season.

While Vinny Guadagnino remained at the bottom of the leaderboard this week, there was a lot more shake-up at the top.

Heidi and Artem were the other pair in the bottom

Apart from Wayne and Gabby, Shangela and Jordin Sparks each also experienced rise this week, with both receiving their highest scores of the season with their Prom Night dances.

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