‘Really Bad’ or ‘Awesome Choreography’: ‘DWTS’ Viewers Weigh In on Why Phaedra Parks & Val Chmerkovskiy Were Eliminated

This week’s installment of “Dancing With the Stars” featured enchanting performances and another elimination. Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy performed a jazz to “Cruella de Vil” from 101 Dalmatians.

As the competition intensified, the eight remaining couples showcased their individual routines before dividing into two teams to compete for bonus points.

In the individual routines, Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong led the night with a score of 27/30, tying with Danny Amendola and Witney Carson, who also earned 27/30. Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson followed closely with 25/30, sharing the score with Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten.

Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach, Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold, Parks and Chmerkovskiy, and Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber all received 24/30, making for a competitive evening.

After performing their solo routines, the couples split into two teams. Team Roar, which included Howard and Karagach, Amendola and Carson, Nedoroscik and Arnold, and Chmerkovskiy and Parks, scored 24/30 despite some coordination issues.

Team Goofs, featuring Maher and Bersten, Graziadei and Johnson, Kinney and Armstrong, and Tran and Farber, earned 27/30. Ultimately, after audience votes were tallied, Parks and Chmerkovskiy were eliminated, a decision that stirred mixed reactions among their fans.

One fan praised Parks, though with some reservations, “Awesome choreography, but not her best dance. She looks amazing though. Very fit! Dancing is hard work!” However, another wasn’t as forgiving, declaring, “Not the best dance at all. Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t feel much energy.”

Some viewers felt Parks got a great score only because she was paired with Chmerkovskiy. A fan pointed this out, “The judges are giving her 8’s because of Val. No way does she deserve the same scores as Joey, Chandler, Stephen or Jenn.”

Another viewer criticized Parks’ dancing, “Because she was really bad tonight. Barely moved in the Jazz dance and looked lost in the team dance.” “She did look lost in the team dance you’re right,” a viewer concurred. A fan with similar views bluntly expressed, “She cannot dance 😪😥 sorry.”

Supporters of Chmerkovskiy felt sad to see him eliminated, with one penning, “I feel sorry for Val!!” Some of his admirers shared their disappointment, “I love val [sic] so much he is such a powerful and energetic dancer so it was sad see him go home tonight.”

Still, one viewer showed their support for the pair, commenting, “Ms Parks And [sic] Val you did your best. 💃🕺💐💐💐💐Right Vote This Time. No Shocker.”

Parks and Chmerkovskiy gave their all on stage, with Chmerkovskiy praising his partner for putting in the work in the tough competition. “We did our best, that’s why this is bittersweet. It is bitter obviously because I’m not going to see her tomorrow morning,” noted Chmerkovskiy.

Chmerkovskiy added that he was proud of his partner who had accomplished a lot by working hard each day. The two gushed about how much they would miss each other and the routine they were used to for weeks.

Before her elimination from season 33, Parks had spoken about how determined she was to win on “Dancing With the Stars.” The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star shared that she didn’t ask for advice from her fellow Housewives, choosing to approach the experience with a fresh perspective.

“We had a chat and so they gave me their thoughts about it, but I didn’t really want their tips because I need to win. They haven’t won yet,” said Parks.

The 50-year-old had also shared that although her training with Chmerkovskiy had been challenging, she found the experience enjoyable. She had heard the show would be fun but demanding, and being someone who stays focused, she embraced the hard work, noting that the training involved at least four hours daily.

Despite not winning, Parker values her experience with Chmerkovskiy and recognizes the hard work she put in, knowing she gave her all.