Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 3, 2025 · Entertainment

Danielle Fishel Sets the Record Straight: 'I Didn't Shade Whitney Leavitt'!

Danielle Fishel broke her silence on a moment that went viral of her supposedly 'shading' her Dancing with the Stars competitor Whitney Leavitt at the end of last Tuesday's episode of the ABC reality TV competition (pictured Wednesday)

The Danielle Fishel Dilemma: Unpacking the Drama Behind Her Viral "Shading" Moment on Dancing with the Stars

The usually bubbly and effervescent Danielle Fishel has finally broken her silence regarding a moment that left fans of Dancing with the Stars scratching their heads last week. The Boy Meets World alum was accused of "shading" her competitor Whitney Leavitt, but in a surprising twist, it turns out there's more to the story than meets the eye.

As you may recall, Lauren Jauregui and her partner Brandon Armstrong were eliminated from the competition after scoring a respectable 18 points for their cha-cha-cha routine. The camera cut to Danielle, who was visibly shaken by the news, and then to Whitney, who seemed oblivious to the emotional weight of the situation. Danielle's gaze fell on Lauren, and she promptly went over to offer her friend some comfort.

It happened when Lauren Jauregui and her dance partner Brandon Armstrong were eliminated after scoring 18 points for their cha-cha-cha to her own girl group Fifth Harmony's 2016 song, Work from Home

But before we dive into what really happened, let's set the scene: this was not just any ordinary elimination night on Dancing with the Stars. The theme was TikTok, and the energy in the ballroom was electric. Whitney, a Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, had every reason to be celebrating – she had just made it to the next round, after all!

So, what exactly did Danielle do that sparked so much drama? Well, according to the widely-shared moment on social media, it seemed like Danielle was "putting Whitney in her place" by ignoring her and focusing on comforting Lauren instead. But don't be fooled – there's more to the story than just a simple snub.

In an exclusive interview with TMZ, Danielle finally spoke out about what really happened that night: "It's a roller coaster of emotions. We can be happy for ourselves and our friends that were safe and also sad that somebody is gone." She went on to clarify, "So I definitely did not put her in her place, but I just went to go comfort my friend."

The camera cut to the 44-year-old Boy Meets World alum facing the grinning 32-year-old Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, who was giddy celebrating being declared safe

But here's the thing – Danielle's actions that night weren't just about comforting Lauren; they were also a testament to the competitive nature of Dancing with the Stars. As a seasoned dancer and actress, Danielle knows how it feels to be eliminated from a competition, and she wanted to show her support for her fellow contestant.

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room – or rather, the elephant in Whitney's camp. While some fans speculated that Danielle was "shading" Whitney, others were quick to point out that maybe, just maybe, Whitney herself wasn't exactly the most gracious competitor. After all, as we've seen time and time again on reality TV, it's not always about being kind or considerate of your fellow contestants – sometimes it's about winning at all costs.

As for Danielle's dance partner Pasha Pashkov, he's been with her every step of the way, even when things got tough. The two are currently preparing for Disney Night next Tuesday, and if their foxtrot routine to Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" is anything to go by, they're going to bring the house down.

Whitney's face quickly fell when she saw the devastated expression on Danielle, who proceeded to focus her attention on the eliminated 29-year-old singer

But what about Danielle's personal life? After all, she's been through her fair share of ups and downs over the years. Did you know that she's already suffered a painful-looking leg injury from a hamstring tear? Ouch! On Instagram, she revealed that it was indeed a deep tissue massage gone wrong – not exactly something you want to see on social media.

Speaking of love and relationships, Danielle and her husband Jensen Karp will celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary next month. The two met in high school and have been inseparable ever since. Their adorable sons Adler and Keaton are the icing on the cake for this lovely couple.

As we wrap up this juicy tale of Dancing with the Stars drama, one thing is clear: Danielle Fishel is a true pro. Whether she's navigating the ups and downs of reality TV or dealing with her personal life, she always manages to keep it classy.

Fishel took hold of Lauren and warmly embraced her as the credits rolled

So, there you have it – the real story behind Danielle's "shading" moment on Dancing with the Stars. Maybe we can all learn a thing or two from this talented actress and dancer about how to handle rejection with grace and kindness.

The frosty moment went viral with viewers believing that the two-time Children's & Family Emmy Award nominee had done something to shut down 'tone deaf' Leavitt (R, pictured September 7)

Danielle clarified to TMZ on Wednesday: 'No, iIt's a roller coaster of emotions. We can be happy for ourselves and our friends that were safe and also sad that somebody is gone. So I definitely did not put her in her place, but I just went to go comfort my friend'

Fishel and her dance partner Pasha Pashkov earned her highest score of the season - 21 points - for their foxtrot to Sabrina Carpenter's new song Manchild last Tuesday

The Arizona-born beauty and the Russian 39-year-old spent Thursday at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, CA prepping for their quickstep routine to The Jungle Book anthem I Wan'na Be Like You in honor of 'Disney Night' next Tuesday

Last Friday, Danielle revealed she's already sustained a painful-looking leg injury

When Instagram user @mantrod asked Fishel if it happened from the splits, she replied: 'No, from a hamstring tear and a deep tissue massage'

On November 4, the Danielle with the Stars podcaster and her second husband Jensen Karp will celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary, and they're proud parents of sons Adler, 6; and Keaton, 4 (pictured October 31)