When Conner Leavitt stepped onto the "Dancing With the Stars" ballroom floor Tuesday night, producers were banking on a feel-good redemption arc. Instead, they got a firestorm.
The 24-year-old internet personality — famous for prank videos that have racked up billions of views — was announced last month as a last-minute addition to Season 34's cast, replacing an injured soap star. Fans were skeptical from the start. Within hours of his first performance, that skepticism curdled into full-blown outrage.
Leavitt and pro partner Daniella Karagach performed a Cha Cha to a remixed pop track, and the judges were noticeably lukewarm. Bruno Tonioli called it "charmingly chaotic." Carrie Ann Inaba praised his "raw energy" but admitted his footwork was "a disaster waiting to happen." They scored a 19 out of 30 — the lowest of the night.
But the scores weren't what lit up social media. It was the backstage footage.
Cameras caught Leavitt joking with Karagach after the performance, seemingly mocking judge Derek Hough's critique. The clip spread like wildfire on X, where "Conner Leavitt" trended for six straight hours. One viral post with over 400,000 likes read: "He's treating the biggest dance stage in America like a TikTok prank. Disrespectful."
Longtime viewers weren't just annoyed — they were furious. DWTS has spent years rebuilding its reputation as a legitimate competition after the "stars" label became a punchline. Casting a prank YouTuber felt like a step backward to many loyal fans.
"This show used to mean something," one viewer commented under the official DWTS Instagram post. "Now it's just a casting stunt for clout."
Leavitt, for his part, seemed unbothered. In a post-show interview, he shrugged off the criticism. "I'm not a dancer. I'm here to have fun and maybe learn a step or two. If people want to be mad, that's on them."
That response only poured gasoline on the fire. Critics pointed out that other contestants — including a Paralympic athlete and a Broadway veteran — had trained for months and were taking the opportunity seriously. Leavitt's casual attitude, they argued, was a slap in the face to everyone who actually cared about the craft.
Not everyone is against him, though. A vocal contingent of his younger fanbase has flooded the DWTS voting lines, keeping him safely out of the bottom two. Some argue the outrage is overblown — that DWTS has always cast controversial figures for ratings, and Leavitt is simply the latest in a long line of publicity magnets.
But there's a bigger question looming: Is this what the show wants to be? A platform where genuine effort takes a backseat to manufactured drama? If Leavitt survives another week while better dancers go home, fans may have their answer — and they may not like it.
One thing is certain: the ballroom has never seen a contestant quite like Conner Leavitt. Whether that's a blessing or a curse for the show remains to be seen. But with ratings reportedly up 18% since the premiere, ABC executives are probably popping champagne — even as longtime viewers threaten to tune out for good.
**Our take:** Casting controversy for clicks is a dangerous game. DWTS can survive one viral villain, but if it keeps choosing shock value over substance, it risks alienating the loyal audience that made it a staple in the first place. Leavitt may be good for the algorithm — but he's bad for the ballroom.