“Dancing with the Stars” returned on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, with the show’s Season 34 Week 7 theme, Halloween Night, a live “Dance Monster-thon,” and a surprise elimination that sent Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik home. The night also saw Elaine Hendrix miss the live broadcast after a hospital visit, while the ballroom welcomed guest judge and two-time Mirrorball champion Cheryl Burke. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough guided the spooky festivities alongside judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
Affleck and Ravnik’s exit capped a results segment that combined judges’ scores with live viewer votes. Ribeiro announced that “more than 55 million votes” were cast, a show record, before the last three couples waiting on the results were Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas, Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik, and Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten. The couple eliminated: Jen and Jan. “This experience has meant everything to me … I did this for my kids,” Jen said onstage, while Jan praised his partner as “a rockstar.” Affleck’s husband and “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” costar Zac Affleck was shown in tears as the result landed.
In their post-show interview, the duo told “Extra” they were blindsided by the outcome. “I feel grateful … I really worked hard,” Jen said. “I feel like it was our best performance yet.” Jan added that Jen left “everything onstage,” then admitted, “We were shocked.” Jen explained the Contemporary routine to Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” was “a personal choice” and connected it to her own experience of facing doubt and using “negativity to fuel me tonight.” She also emphasized starting this journey “eight weeks postpartum” with “three babies.”
Earlier in the episode, the pair’s Contemporary drew 34/40 from Inaba, Tonioli, Hough, and Burke, with additional bonus points coming from the Dance Monster-thon. They finished the evening seventh on the combined leaderboard. Jan referenced criticism he’d faced from former pros Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd, while coverage also reiterated the judges’ tough job each week.
Elaine Hendrix Hospitalized; Rehearsal Footage Scored in Her Absence
Elaine Hendrix missed the live Halloween Night performance after suffering a rib injury during rehearsal. The hosts explained she was hospitalized earlier that day; the judges evaluated Hendrix and partner Alan Bersten using their last full rehearsal as a stand-in performance. The routine received four 8s for a total of 32, and Hendrix shared a video from the hospital with hopes of returning next week.
View this post on Instagram
Dance Monster-thon Winners, Top Scores, and the Night’s Standouts
The Halloween “Dance Monster-thon” brought all nine couples onto the floor for a Hustle to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor” followed by a Lindy Hop to Fergie, Q-Tip & GoonRock’s “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got).” The last couple standing, crowned King and Queen of the Monster-thon, were Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, whose bonus points were added to earlier judges’ scores to form the final leaderboard.
Alix Earle and Valentin Chmerkovskiy led the pack in regular scoring with a Tango to Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend,” earning 39/40. Derek called it “fantastic,” Burke praised, “you did it all, girl,” Bruno hailed it as “Drop dead good,” and Carrie Ann offered “Mad respect.”
Dylan Efron revealed that his partner, Daniella Karagach, accidentally broke his nose in rehearsal, yet they pressed on with a Viennese Waltz to “Can’t Help Falling in Love (DARK)” by Tommee Profitt and Brooke. “You are the most improved couple of the season,” Burke told him; Derek called Efron “smooth as velvet,” and Bruno deemed the dance “sexy.” They scored 35/40.
Complete Week 7 Cast & Couples
- Jennifer (Jen) Affleck & Jan Ravnik — Eliminated on Oct. 28 (Week 7). Contemporary to Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.” Finished seventh after bonus points.
- Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas — Monster-thon winners. Still competing.
- Alix Earle & Valentin Chmerkovskiy — 39/40 on Tango; led the leaderboard.
- Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach — 35/40 after a rehearsal nose injury.
- Robert Irwin & Witney Carson — Still competing.
- Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa — Monster-thon finalists. Still competing.
- Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov — Still competing.
- Andy Richter & Emma Slater — In the bottom three; survived elimination.
- Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten — Hospitalized during rehearsal; rehearsal footage scored 32 (four 8s). Not eliminated.
- Additional Season 34 competitors referenced this season include Corey Feldman & Jenna Johnson, Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold, Hilaria Baldwin & Gleb Savchenko, and Baron Davis & Britt Stewart.
How the Night Worked: Scoring, Voting Records, and Start Time
Each couple performed one routine before the ballroom turned into a group “Dance Monster-thon.” Judges then added bonus points from the marathon to earlier scores to create the final combined leaderboard. The results combined those totals with live votes — which exceeded 55 million on October 28 — before the bottom group faced elimination.
ABC scheduled “Dancing with the Stars: Halloween Night” (episode 3407) for 8:00–10:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 28, with next-day streaming on Hulu. The network also confirmed Burke’s guest judge return and the Monster-thon format prior to the broadcast.
Why Jen & Jan Went Home — and What’s Next
Affleck and Ravnik’s Contemporary earned 34/40, then dropped to the bottom group after the Monster-thon reshuffle and viewer votes. The elimination leaves Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Danielle Fishel, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron, and Whitney Leavitt still chasing the Mirrorball Trophy.
Halloween Night reinforced how the Monster-thon can swing momentum late. High leaderboard positions like Earle and Chmerkovskiy’s 39/40 create a cushion, while middle-pack totals can quickly become vulnerable once live voting starts. With Hendrix aiming to return and Leavitt/Ballas surging after the Monster-thon win, expect the next theme night to reward consistency and cardio endurance as much as polish.
View this post on Instagram
FAQ: DWTS Elimination Tonight, Start Time, and Voting
- Who was eliminated on “Dancing with the Stars” tonight? Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik.
- Who went home on “Dancing with the Stars” Week 7 (Halloween Night)? Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik.
- What time does “Dancing with the Stars” start? For Halloween Night (Episode 3407): 8–10 p.m. ET on Oct. 28; next-day streaming on Hulu.
- How does DWTS voting work? The show combines judges’ scores with live viewer votes; Oct. 28 saw “more than 55 million votes.”
With a collective experience in film analysis and entertainment journalism, our team, comprised of avid movie buffs, has always been on the frontline of exploring cinematic universes, from the enchanting realms of Disney to the action-packed scenes of the MCU.
Our passion has led us to exclusive interviews with notable figures, early access, and active participation in the industry.
Recognized by the press, we dive deep into various genres, including drama, cartoons, comedy, and foreign films, always eager to bring fresh insights to our readers.
Connect with us or explore our journey to learn more about our adventures in unraveling the magic of the big screen.
