Selma Blair took one final turn around the Dancing with the Stars ballroom during Oct. 17’s competition, performing a Viennese Waltz with her pro partner Sasha Farber to “What the World Needs Now Is Love” by Andra Day. “As you know, I’ve been monitored and in touch with my doctors this whole process,” Selma told Sasha at the start of a rehearsal. “I had these MRI’s and it all adds up to I can’t, I can’t, I can’t go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could. I’m so sorry Sasha.” Three days previous to that conversation, Selma had taped her package for the Most Memorable Year theme. She said for her it was 2018 when she received her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and how finally discovering what was wrong with her was a turning point. “My MS diagnosis was a huge relief,” she said. “Everyone started to support me. The universal support of enough people changed my life— probably my son’s life, too, and I hope to take that love I felt and put it toward this dance. That’s the goal.” Selma went on to say, “With a chronic illness you do have special considerations. My body is definitely taking a hit. It’s way too much for the safety of my bones. There’s just intensive bone trauma and inflammation among rips and tears and I could do extensive damage that, of course, I do not want. I’ll have to settle in and get back to being a mom. I have to pull back on something I love to do and sometimes you make hard decisions. But I really want to do a last beautiful dance.” Which she did saying, “This is a dance for everyone that has tried and hoped that they could do more but also the power of realizing when it’s time to walk away so I am so, so grateful to be able to do one last dance.” Selma was awarded four 10s by judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tognioli in tribute to her incredible journey on the show. Len said, “This competition is tough for everyone but if the others have climbed hills, you have climbed mountains. Congratulations.” Derek told her, “Selma, you’ve been a beacon of light this entire competition. You’ve not only shown yourself and so many what is possible, but I just want to say your reputation on the show has been impeccable. I hear from the makeup and hair crew and the wardrobe department. You’ve brought nothing but joy to everyone and always with a smile. And to me that speaks volumes about who you are as a human being and as a person. Thank you for that. Thank you for the gift of sharing that with us.” Bruno added, “My darling, I feel privileged to have known you. You have all my love, respect and admiration. The whole country is with me on this, I think. Your star has never shone brighter.” And finally, Carrie Ann critiqued, “Watching you get out here each week has been like watching a living, breathing, elegantly, dancing miracle. You have brought so much awareness for people who struggle with chronic illness and deal with chronic pain. You have been nothing but an inspiration and a light to all of us, especially showing other people how anything is possible. You are a blessing and a gift.” Backstage after her announcement, Selma’s fellow competitors commented on her departure. Gabby Windey said, “It was really hard to hear. Selma is so loved by us. She is such a light. But she has to put her body first. She will be so missed.” And her pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy added, “As somebody who has been a part of DWTS a long time, I feel responsible for the entire cast. All pros feel that way. Selma’s participation made us feel fulfilled and honored to host someone like Selma. I just hope she can be an example that this is a place where you can take a leap of faith to try something new and hard and feel great about it.” Jordin Sparks also weighed in on Selma’s departure. “It’s been a really emotional week. I met Selma during GMA when we announced everything. Legally Blonde was my [favorite] movie and I was going to run up to her, but she was, ‘Oh, my God. I love you,’ and we bonded from there. I adore Selma. She is so inspiring. I am so sad she won’t be around.” And lastly, Wayne Brady said, “It was pure unadulterated shock. I heard nothing about it going into it. Selma lights up this competition. This is a very human competition. She is a light that we’ve gravitated to.” Selma also commented backstage after she announced her exit that while her doctors have told her not to dance any longer with the intensity that is required for DWTS, her time on the show did help her. “I had gains here physically that I couldn’t get in physical therapy or through Zoom therapy with my body or balance,” she said. “This is a real immersion therapy. On one side, I had kind of a bone overload, but on the other side, I had total gains and much less drop foot and I can calm down a lot better now when confronted with a new task.” Next, A Shocking Departure! Who Went Home on Dancing With the Stars Last Night?
