Dancing With the Stars returned Tuesday night for Season 35’s second week of competition, and “Viral Hits Night” brought another round of high-energy performances, unexpected score changes and a surprising elimination.

After a dramatic two-night premiere that saw two couples sent home, the remaining 14 celebrities returned to the ballroom on September 22 hoping to prove they belonged in the competition. This time, the stars and their professional partners were challenged to perform routines inspired by songs and dances that have taken over social media.

By the end of the night, the leaderboard had several familiar faces near the top — while one celebrity’s journey came to an end.

Giada De Laurentiis Eliminated From Dancing With the Stars

The biggest news of the night came at the end of the episode when Giada De Laurentiis and her professional partner Alan Bersten were eliminated from the competition.

The celebrity chef performed a salsa to “Bella Ciao” by Becky G, but the routine struggled to connect with the judges. Giada received 12 out of 30 points, putting her among the lowest-scoring couples of the evening.

The performance included several difficult moments, with Giada appearing to lose her footing during portions of the choreography and becoming uncertain during a transition following one of the lifts.

Her elimination means that Season 35 has already said goodbye to three celebrity contestants after only two weeks of competition.

Giada’s exit also brought an emotional end to what she had described as a major personal challenge. The chef had stepped outside of her comfort zone to compete on the ballroom floor, encouraged in part by her daughter.

The Night Belonged to the Top of the Leaderboard

While Giada’s elimination dominated the results, the other major storyline from Viral Hits Night was the increasingly competitive race at the top.

Several contestants finished the night with 21 out of 30, creating a three-way tie for the highest judges’ score.

Among them were Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, who continued to build momentum after their strong showing during the premiere.

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy also earned 21 points for their jive, while Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov matched that score with their tango. The three couples shared the top score on the leaderboard.

Ezra’s performance was particularly notable because the Paralympic athlete continued to demonstrate significant improvement only one week into the competition.

Harry Shum Jr. Takes a Step Back

One of the more noticeable developments of the night involved Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson.

Harry entered the season as one of the contestants with substantial dance and performance experience, and his Week 1 routine earned him 21 points. However, his Viennese waltz this week received 18 points, marking a three-point drop.

The routine had several beautiful moments, but the judges also identified areas where Harry could improve, particularly when it came to his connection and performance choices.

Despite the dip, the actor remained safe and will continue into Week 3.

Maura Higgins Remains in the Competition

Love Island star Maura Higgins also returned to the ballroom after making an impressive first impression during the premiere.

Partnered with returning pro Mark Ballas, Maura performed a cha-cha and earned 19 out of 30 points.

Although the performance wasn’t quite as confident as her first appearance, Maura avoided any major mistakes and remained safely in the competition.

Her biggest challenge now appears to be confidence. After dealing with nerves during her debut, Maura once again showed that she has the ability to compete at a high level — but she’ll need to become increasingly comfortable with the choreography as the season progresses.

Taylor Hanson Holds Steady

Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart also returned for Week 2 with another cha-cha.

Taylor received 15 out of 30 points, slightly lower than his 16-point score from the premiere.

Despite the small drop, he remained safe and continues to establish himself as one of the contestants who could quietly move further into the competition.

Jenna Dewan Continues to Impress

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy were another highlight of Viral Hits Night.

The actress delivered a jive that earned 21 out of 30 points, putting the pair into the three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.

Jenna’s performance also reignited discussion about her previous dance experience, something that could become an interesting storyline as the competition gets tougher.

With the season still in its early stages, Jenna and Val have already established themselves as one of the couples capable of competing near the top.

What’s Next for Dancing With the Stars?

With Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten now eliminated, 13 couples remain in the competition.

The remaining celebrities will return next week for Yacht Rock Night, continuing the season’s rotating weekly themes. Season 35 is one of the show’s largest casts, making the road to the finale particularly competitive.

For now, Ezra Frech, Jenna Dewan and Amber Glenn are among the names sitting at the top after Week 2, while contestants such as Harry Shum Jr. and Maura Higgins will be looking to strengthen their performances in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, Giada becomes the third celebrity to leave the ballroom this season, following Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader, who were eliminated during the two-night premiere.

Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+, with episodes available the following day on Hulu.