When Hilaria Baldwin, a 41‑year‑old yoga instructor and podcaster, and her partner Gleb Savchenko took the floor on Disney Night, nobody expected their journey on Dancing With The Stars to end that night.
The elimination unfolded during the live broadcast of Season 34, Episode 4ABC Studios, 3000 West Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at about 10:15 PM ET. Host Tyra Banks announced a record‑breaking tally of more than 40 million votes, then revealed that Baldwin and Savchenko were among the three couples with the lowest combined scores.
Disney Night Showdown: Scores, Votes, and the Elimination
The judges’ panel—Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli—gave Baldwin and Savchenko a mixed bag of marks for their Star Wars‑inspired routine. The choreography tried to blend lightsaber swoops with classic ballroom lifts, but critics at TVLine noted it “just wasn’t giving the Star …” The scores landed them in the bottom three alongside Andy & Emma and Danielle & Pasha.
When the voting lines closed, the audience’s 40 million‑plus votes tipped the scale. The DWTS formula still counts judges’ scores as 50 % of a couple’s total, with the remaining half coming from viewer votes. In this case, the public surge was enough to seal Baldwin and Savchenko’s fate.
Who Are Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko?
Hilaria Baldwin hails from Southampton, New York, and built a wellness empire around her "Yoga Girl" brand. Her Manhattan studio draws dozens of regulars, her podcast averages 250,000 downloads per month, and her retreat line generated $1.2 million in its debut year (2020). She entered the competition hoping to showcase the strength and flexibility that yoga can bring to ballroom.
Gleb Savchenko is a Russian‑American professional dancer who first appeared on DWTS in Season 16 (2013). Originally from Moscow, he moved to Los Angeles and has partnered with a parade of celebrities, from Brooks Nader (Season 32) to the British counterpart on Strictly Come Dancing. His technical chops are well‑respected, but a Disney‑themed routine proved a tough fit for his classical style.
Judge Reactions and Critical Takeaways
After the performance, Bruno Tonioli praised the ambition but lamented the lack of cohesion, saying, “You wanted a galaxy‑far‑away vibe, but the story fell flat.” Carrie Ann Inaba highlighted the couple’s chemistry, noting, “Your connection is there, but the choreography didn’t let it shine.” Meanwhile, Derek Hough offered a constructive note on footwork, adding, “If you nail the basics, the theme will feel more natural.”
Entertainment journalists echoed the sentiment. Variety called the routine “an ambitious mash‑up that never quite landed,” while Entertainment Weekly praised the couple’s bravery for tackling a sci‑fi concept on a Disney‑themed night.
Impact on the Season and What’s Next
With Baldwin and Savchenko gone, the competition shrinks to eight pairs: Jen Allen & Jan Ravnik, Jordan Fisher & Ezra Sosa, Dylan Sprouse & Daniella Karagach, Elaine Welteroth & Alan Bersten, Whitney McClintock‑Rini & Mark Ballas, Robert Herjavec & Whitney Davis, Scott Evans & Rylee Arnold, and Alex Wagner & Bowyn Weng. The next episode, set for Monday, October 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC, will swing to a Motown Night theme, letting contestants channel the soulful sounds of Berry Gordy’s label.
For Baldwin, the exit may mean refocusing on her Yoga Girl empire, while Savchenko is likely to return to the dance circuit for upcoming tours and perhaps a guest spot on the British Strictly Come Dancing. Both have hinted on social media that the experience, though short, gave them new insights into performance art.
Background: DWTS’s Record‑Breaking Vote Count
The 40 million vote milestone is the largest in the show’s 34‑year history. Earlier in the season, the “Fan Favorite” poll peaked at 22 million, but the Disney Night episode smashed that with a 81 % jump. Industry analysts attribute the surge to a combination of live‑tweeting, a refreshed voting app, and the nostalgia draw of Disney‑related content.
Network execs say the numbers could influence future season structures, potentially expanding interactive voting windows or incorporating more themed nights that encourage fan participation.
- Eliminated: Hilaria Baldwin (yoga guru) & Gleb Savchenko (pro dancer)
- Episode: Disney Night, aired Oct 7 2025
- Votes: >40 million nationwide
- Judges: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli
- Next theme: Motown Night (Oct 14 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko receive the lowest combined score?
Their Star Wars‑themed routine clashed with Disney Night’s expectations, leading judges to dock points for storytelling and musicality. Viewer votes also favored other couples, pushing their combined total into the bottom three.
How many votes were cast during the Disney Night episode?
More than 40 million votes were tallied, marking the highest voting volume in the show’s history and surpassing the previous record by over 18 million.
What is the format for combining judges' scores and audience votes?
DWTS uses a 50 % judges' score and 50 % audience vote split. Each couple’s judges' total is converted into a percentage and added to the vote percentage, determining the final ranking.
Who will host the next episode and what theme will it feature?
Host Tyra Banks returns for the Motown Night episode on October 14, 2025, where contestants will perform to classic hits from the Motown label.
What impact might this record vote count have on future seasons?
Executives see the surge as a sign to expand interactive elements—potentially longer voting windows, more themed nights, and deeper integration with social platforms—to keep audience engagement high.