“The Return That Changes Everything”: Mark Ballas EXPOSES How He Almost Quit for Good Before Making the Most DRAMATIC Comeback in DWTS History
Mark Ballas is back on the dance floor for “Dancing With the Stars” season 34 — and fans couldn’t be more excited. The “DWTS” pro dancer shares why he decided to return to the show after a long break.
Mark Ballas Reveals the Touching Reason He’s Back on DWTS
In a September 2025 interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Ballas shared how he finally found his way back to “Dancing With the Stars.”
“I’m super excited. You know, I thought I was done competing in 2022,” he explained. “I had some injury stuff that I had to kind of be diligent about.”
He continued, “But when I had my son, I was like, you know … no, I’m not going to submit to these ailments. I’m going to work hard on them. So, I’ve been really working on those things. They’ve cleared up. I feel good.”
“I got to dance with Derek [Hough] last season in the tango, which was a great test run,” Ballas noted. “I just am excited for my son to see me do this.”
He added, “So, yeah I was like, ‘I got another one or two in the tank. Let’s give it a go.'”
Ballas took a hiatus from the show after season 25 and returned for season 31 in 2022.
He’s paired with “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt for “DWTS” season 34.
Fans Are Excited to See Mark Ballas Back on ‘DWTS’
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After the “Dancing With the Stars” season 34 cast was announced, Leavitt took to Instagram to share their first photos for the show.
“Team WHARK IT!!! Comin in hoootttt 🔥 #dwts,” she wrote in the caption.
Ballas also posted a video following the announcement, writing in the caption: “Well … This will be fun @whitleavitt 👯♀️.”
Fans lit up the comments section with excitement over Ballas’ return. “What did we do to deserve another season with THE Mark Ballas?!? 🙌🏽” one fan asked.
Another noted, “Welcome back to the ballroom, Mark!!!!! WE’VE MISSED YOU.”
“You’re my favorite,” another fan commented. “You guys are gonna win the mirrorball.”
In a Reddit discussion about Ballas’ return to “DWTS,” fans reacted to his reason for competing on the show again. “I LOVE that his son made him realize he wasn’t done,” one person wrote.
Another fan commented, “That’s sweet that he came back for his son. I’m glad he took the time to take care of himself first before jumping back in.”
Austen Kroll SLAMS Leva Bonaparte for Calling Him ‘Most Complained About,’ Accuses Her of Staging Drama to Save Her Reputation, Claims She Booted Him From Her Restaurant, All While the Scandal Accidentally Catapults Her Business
Austen Kroll isn’t holding back anymore. After weeks of whispers, Instagram subtweets, and rumors circulating the Hamptons, Austen has gone public with his fury over Leva Bonaparte, accusing her of turning a personal feud into full-blown drama — all while ironically boosting her restaurant’s fame.
“She called me the ‘most complained about’ person?” Austen exclaimed, disbelief and anger thick in his voice. “That’s not just unfair — it’s a complete manipulation. She’s staging drama to save her own reputation, and I’m caught in the middle.”
The Restaurant Fallout
Austen claims that the feud didn’t stay in words. According to him, Leva went so far as to boot him from her own restaurant after a minor disagreement, leaving him shocked and publicly humiliated. “I can’t believe she would do that over something so small,” Austen said. “It wasn’t just personal, it was professional too. And yet somehow, it spun in her favor.”
Insiders reveal the irony isn’t lost on anyone. “Leva’s restaurant has never had more attention,” one source explained. “Every fight, every comment, every post about Austen being ‘complained about’ is driving traffic through the roof. People are curious, people are talking — it’s the ultimate reality TV paradox.”
Accusations of Staged Drama
Austen is adamant that the drama is orchestrated. “I’m not just another storyline for her to fix her image,” he said firmly. “She knows how to make herself the victim, the heroine, and somehow it turns everything in her favor. I’m done being part of her play.”
The Hamptons React
Friends and castmates report that the tension has divided the house. Some sympathize with Austen, frustrated by Leva’s tactics, while others are caught up in the spectacle, unsure what’s real and what’s manufactured. “It’s like walking through a minefield,” one insider admitted. “One comment, one move, and another firestorm ignites. The house is buzzing.”
A Love-Hate Spotlight
Despite the chaos, Austen isn’t retreating. “I’m not backing down,” he declared. “I’m tired of being misrepresented. And if this ends up shining a light on how much manipulation goes on behind the scenes, then fine. But I won’t let this fake drama define me or my name.”
In the Hamptons, where every slight becomes a headline and every feud fuels curiosity, Austen and Leva’s explosive clash may be the most talked-about storyline yet — proving once again that in reality TV, sometimes the drama is the star of the show.
