Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars kicked off on Tuesday, and the premiere did not disappoint in drama, emotions, or controversy. Among the new celebrity cast, Hilaria Baldwin, 41, wife of Alec Baldwin, 67, stole the spotlight with a highly emotional Cha Cha performance alongside professional partner Gleb Savchenko.
The yoga instructor and mother of seven opened up about the personal significance of her return to the dance floor, calling it a “dream come true.” Hilaria’s journey back to dancing was far from easy—she revealed that she hadn’t danced seriously in 16 years following a hip injury. The premiere clearly hit her emotionally: at one point, she nearly broke down in tears as she spoke about the experience, watched closely by her husband and three of their children in the audience.
Hilaria Baldwin Nearly Breaks Down in Tears During DWTS Debut as Fans Predict Early Exit
Hilaria’s neon green ensemble made her presence on the dance floor impossible to ignore. Dancing to Jennifer Lopez’s Let’s Get Loud, she earned a 7 from both Derek Hough, 40, and Bruno Tonioli, 69—Carrie Ann Inaba was absent due to illness—giving her a total of 14 out of 20. Derek praised her, calling it “the best Cha Cha I have seen from a mother of seven,” while Bruno gushed that he couldn’t wait to see her perform again. Despite the judges’ encouragement, fans were quick to cast doubt on her longevity in the competition, with some taking to social media to speculate she might be the first to go home.
The backlash extended beyond her dance skills. Some fans revisited long-standing controversies around Hilaria, including her Spanish accent and her claims of being born in Majorca, Spain, when public records show she was born in Boston. Social media commenters joked that dancing to a Latin song seemed “unserious” given the history.
The premiere also featured its share of scoring drama. Bruno accidentally keyed in the wrong score for Whitney Leavitt, 32, causing her total to jump from 14 to 15. Host Alfonso Ribeiro clarified the mishap, explaining that the judges’ locked-in scores supersede what paddle numbers they hold up. Fans called out Bruno for being “messy” and distracted, and his gaffe fueled further conversation online.
Other performances ran the gamut from surprising skill to cringe-worthy stumbles. Corey Feldman, 54, tied for the lowest score with comedian Andy Richter, earning a 9 out of 20 for a Tango performance that fans described as “stomping” and “rough.” Meanwhile, TikTok influencer Alix Earle, 24, impressed the judges with a Circus-inspired routine alongside Val Chmerkovskiy, earning 13 points and winning the hearts of viewers.
Notable highlights included Jordan Chiles, 24, opening the night with a salsa, Robert Irwin, 21, performing a jive in honor of his late father Steve Irwin, and a sizzling Cha Cha from Parent Trap actress Elaine Hendrix, 54. Other celebrity contestants like Dylan Efron, Jen Affleck, Baron Davis, Danielle Fishel, and Lauren Jauregui also hit the floor, rounding out a diverse cast.
Behind the scenes, the season appears to be fraught with tension. Sources report that some celebrity contestants have been labeled “lazy” by the pros, creating a chaotic rehearsal environment. Carrie Ann Inaba’s absence due to illness added to the uncertainty, though she promised to return next week.
For Hilaria Baldwin, the emotional debut was a stark reminder of how personal this season is. Her journey from a 16-year dance hiatus to facing the bright lights of live television underscores both the physical and emotional stakes of Dancing With the Stars. Whether she can defy fan predictions and prove herself on the floor remains to be seen, but for now, her tears and triumphs have already made her a talking point for Season 34.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
