Selma Blair Leaves “Dancing With The Stars” Due To Health Concerns
Selma Blair is bowing out of Dancing with the Stars early due to health concerns. The 50-year-old was diagnosed with MS back in 2018, so participating in the 31st season (!) of DWTS was always going to be a big challenge for her. On last night’s episode, Selma was shown breaking the bad news to dance partner Sasha Farber. She explained that doctors had been monitoring her body, and, based on the results of some MRIs, she couldn’t go on. “I pushed as far as I could.” Selma and Sasha performed one last waltz together, and the judges gave them three honorary perfect 10s. And everybody cried, because who doesn’t love Selma Blair? Well, everybody except her late dad’s ex-girlfriend, who sent hate mail to Drew Barrymore using Selma’s name. She’s probably not a fan.
via People:
“You know I’ve been monitored and in touch with my doctors this whole process,” Blair told her partner Sasha Farber in a pre-taped package. “I had these MRIs and when the results came back, it just all adds up to I can’t. I can’t. I can’t go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could.”
“With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations and my body is definitely taking a hit,” she explained. “It’s way too much for the safety of my bones. There’s just intensive bone trauma and inflammation among rips and tears so I could do extensive damage that of course, I do not want.”
Sasha called Selma his “champion.” After their final dance, Selma told host Alfonso Ribeiro:
“It’s so hard for me to take care because I don’t want to, ’cause I want to be here,” Blair admitted. “But I know as a mom and someone that also wants to represent some people that are taking chances and sometimes there are just consequences to any chance you take. And mine is fine. I’m going to be okay.”
Here’s Selma’s final appearance on the show:
Here’s her Instagram post about leaving:
Sarah Michelle Gellar also showed love to her Cruel Intentions co-star:
Entertainment Tonight interviewed Selma (accompanied by her very supportive son, 11-year-old Arthur) after the show. This clip also features a quick chat with Selma’s Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde co-star Reese Witherspoon, who says she’s been watching DWTS and cheering for her friend: “she’s such a dancer anyway, so it’s wonderful to see her having such a fun time”:
I don’t watch DWTS because I have much better things to do with my time (watch every single Real Housewives show and pore over all the stupid details on Reddit), but I watched some clips of Selma dancing, and she was fantastic! And not in a patronizing “compared to Kate Gosselin” way. In a real “that girl can dance” way! Speaking of Kate Gosselin on DWTS…
Pic: Axelle Woussen/BauerGriffin/INST/Cover Images