Witney Carson on a red carpet for ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
Witney Carsonis doing what’s best for herself — and her family.
The longtimeDancing with the Starspro, 29, confirmed she will not be returning to the ABC reality series for its upcoming 32nd season.
In announcing the news on TikTok Sunday, Carson referenced her growing family and noted that “this was not a decision that we took lightly at all.”
But she explained why it’s the best choice for them moving forward.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
“We definitely thought and prayed about it for a while, but we will not be doingDancing With the Starsthis season,” she said. “And as much as that pains me to say, I just feel very at peace with it.”
Carson continued, “You guys know that family is the most important thing to me, and we just really felt that moving our entire family across the country right now was not for us.”
In addition to wanting to create more “stability” for her firstborn child Kevin Leo, Carson — whowelcomed her second child, son Jet, with husbandCarson McAllisterin May — admitted: “I also feel like I’m not quite mentally and physically ready for what the show calls for.”
Carson joinedDancing with the Starsin 2014 for season 18. She’s been paired with the likes ofFrankie MunizandKel Mitchell, but she only won the competition once alongside partnerAlfonso Ribeiro— who now co-hosts the series withJulianne Hough— in season 19.
She competed in the series last season alongsideWayne Brady, ending the competition in third place.
Witney Carson with Frankie Muniz on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Several updates have come in ahead of the upcoming 32nd season. Before the full cast is slated to be unveiled onGood Morning Americaon Sept. 13,BachelorettestarCharity LawsonandVanderpump RulesstarAriana Madixhad been announced as contestants. Hough, 35, is alsoreturning to the ballroombut as a co-host rather than a judge or pro-dancer.
Mark BallasandCheryl Burkeboth announced plans to retire from the show after season 31. Meanwhile, proLindsay Arnoldconfirmed she’s not returning following the birth of her second child in May, saying onTikTok: “I don’t want to put my kids through that right now.”
The series is alsoreturning to its original home on ABCafter spending one season on Disney+. The show will stream on both networks simultaneously.
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Season 32 ofDancing with the Starspremieres this fall on ABC, and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
source: people.com
