“DWTS” fans react to “harsh” assessment of Olympian Ilona Maher

Dancing with the stars Viewers may have different opinions about who stays and who goes home each week, but one thing is clear: they don't take too kindly to the judges upsetting one of the competitors.

After back-to-back week three performances at “Soul Train Night” on Monday and “Hair Metal Night” on Tuesday, viewers saw two couples, Reginald Vel Johnson and professional Emma Slater And Eric Roberts and professional Britt Stewartsent home. However, it wasn't the double elimination that angered fans the most, but rather the “harsh judging” on the second night that made the competitor an Olympic champion Ilona Maher in tears. Fans on social media were quick to join in with the bronze medalist and her partner Alan Bersten.

The fan favorite became emotional when the judges told her that she appeared to have had issues with the longtime judge during her performance Bruno Tonioli saying, “I love the wild and wonderful and I love embracing it, but I'm sorry, darling, you've made a mistake so many times.” She seemed so suffocated by this judge Carrie Ann Anaba At one point she asked if she was okay, to which she replied that she was “better.”

Later Ilona told the co-host Julianne Hough that this just didn't seem to be one of her weeks. “That was a really hard dance for me, and the whole week was really hard,” she said. And you do so well in dress rehearsal, and then you come out and screw it up… it's really hard because (Alan) is so good and he knows I'm good at it, and then I just don't do it.” For Lucky for the 28 year old DWTS Fans quickly gathered around her and offered her all their kindness and support.

“Ilona, we love you!! Everyone makes mistakes! You will come back much stronger!!,” one person wrote. “We need to do a better job of elevating ALL candidates! No reason to make her cry when she's never done that before…heartbreaking,” said another. “Seeing her cry is so heartbreaking. It was a HARD dance and one small mistake doesn't change how wonderful she is. I hate how hard she was on herself. But that she can still be optimistic is amazing,” someone else chimed in. One fan wrote: “Ilona darling, you are an absolute STAR and should be protected at all costs.”

The duo's low score of 26/40 combined with their “Soul Night” score of 30/40 brought them dangerously close to elimination, but luckily they made it to week four, which airs tonight. The theme is “Dedication Night,” where the nine remaining couples dance as a tribute to someone or something important to them.

Ilona shared on Instagram that she was dedicating today's dance to her Olympic team. “Tonight I dedicate this dance to my Olympic team,” she wrote in the caption. “We have truly done something very special, not only for ourselves, but also for those who came before us and those who will come after us. It wasn't easy by any means, but I'm so glad I had this group of incredible people to do it with.”

We can't wait to see what she does out there!

Annie O'Sullivan (she/her) reports vacation, gift guide, travel and lifestyle content at Good housekeeping. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and previously reported for Runner's worldNBC New York/NY 4 and Women's Day. Annie also has experience writing entertainment news and celebrity content.

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