Dancing With the Stars is returning for Disney Night on a different day — and with one pro sitting out.
Adele Zaikman confirmed that she won’t participate in the show, which is set to air on Monday, November 2, saying via Instagram Story, “I’m sadly feeling unwell and won’t be performing in the opening number on Dancing With the Stars tomorrow.”
Zaikman continued: “I’m so sad to miss a show day, but I’ll be taking this time to take care of myself. Sending so much love to everyone on that ballroom floor. I’ll be cheering you on from home.”
The pro, 25, joined DWTS this season after becoming the winner of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro earlier this year. One week into making her DWTS debut, Zaikman and her celebrity partner, Conner Leavitt, were eliminated following a salsa routine to “Whoomp! (There It Is).”
Since eliminated pros still take part in opening numbers, troupe dances and hosting the TikTok lives, Zaikman has made numerous appearances throughout season 35. Zaikman will also return with Leavitt for the finale on November 24.
Disney Night will follow the remaining eight couples as they dance to songs from Disney films. There will also be a team dance where the contestants split into two groups to perform freestyle routines — with cohosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough stepping in to take part in the dances.
Conner Leavitt, Adele Zaikman Disney/Eric McCandless
Disney Night marks a change for the ABC show, which usually airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Instead, DWTS will not air on Tuesday, November 3, because ABC will be covering the midterm elections. The next episode is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, and then the semifinals are set for Tuesday, November 17, before the finale on Tuesday, November 24.
Earlier this season, DWTS made headlines after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized Val Chmerkovskiy’s wife, Jenna Johnson, for including an illegal lift in her Super Bowl Night performance with Harry Shum Jr. Johnson’s husband, 40, took to social media to defend his wife, 32, by sharing a meme with a reference to Will Smith slapping host Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Chmerkovskiy later issued an apology after he was accused of threatening violence against Inaba, 58.
Coming off a double elimination, Dancing With the Stars is — briefly — returning on a different day just in time for Disney Night. Former contestant Andy Richter revealed more details about the Disney theme during the Thursday, October 29, episode of the “Dancing With the Stars Official Podcast.” He confirmed that team dances would […]
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he wrote via his Instagram Story on October 15. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside our internal DWTS family. I should never have made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it. I recognize that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who I am, and who I want to be for you all.”
Chmerkovskiy continued, “I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward. ❤️.”
Chmerkovskiy was ultimately benched from the show for one week. His partner, Jenna Dewan, performed with Alan Bersten instead, and Chmerkovskiy addressed his absence when he returned.
“We are back together,” he said in rehearsal footage. “I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful.”
Dancing With the Stars airs Disney Night on ABC and Disney+ Monday, November 2, at 8 p.m. ET before returning to its usual broadcast time of Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
