Whitney Leavitt Reacts After Conner Leavitt Becomes First Contestant Eliminated on DWTS Season 35 Premiere

Whitney Leavitt's Message to Conner After Premiere Elimination

Whitney Leavitt, the "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" personality, posted a lengthy message on her official Instagram account praising husband Conner Leavitt after he became the first contestant eliminated from Dancing with the Stars Season 35 on the show's premiere night. The reality star wrote that she was "so proud" of Conner, who "stepped so far outside of [his] comfort zone, worked your ass off, put yourself out there, and went for it," and urged him not to let "this ending take away from what you just did."

Conner Leavitt's Night 1 Performance and Scores

Conner Leavitt, 32, and his partner Adele Zaikman performed a salsa to "Whoomp! (There It Is)" during the Season 35 premiere broadcast. The couple received 4 points from each of the three judges, finishing the night with a combined score of 12 out of 30.

Online Voting Issue and Vote Count

The premiere episode was also marked by an online voting disruption, as heavy traffic forced the cancellation of online votes for the night, leaving only votes submitted through text and the show's website to be counted. Combined with Conner Leavitt's smaller fan base relative to the other contestants, the judges' score and adjusted vote tally left him at the bottom of the field and sent him home on the first night of competition.

Family Support and Whitney's Post Details

Alongside her written message, Whitney Leavitt shared three mirror selfies with Conner, who was clutching a large floral bouquet, and referenced the couple's children, writing that "Sedona, Liam and Billy are so proud of their dad." She closed the post by telling him, "I'm so proud and lucky to be your wife, and I hope you're so fucking proud of yourself too! This is just the beginning, babe," with additional emphasis in the original reporting that she called herself "so f–king proud" of him.