Dancing with the Stars' Andy Richter Defends Whitney Leavitt After "Absolutely Insane" Elimination

Andy Richter thinks Whitney Leavitt's Dancing With the Stars elimination was a total misstep.

After the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and her partner Mark Ballas  were cut from season 34 Nov. 18, Richter paso-doble'd to her defense.

"I think Whitney going home, to me it's absolutely insane," the TV personality told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published on Nov. 19. "I mean, she's an amazing dancer. And if all the sticklers who were furious about me still being in it, who were demanding perfect technical dancing, I don't know why she would get sent home under that criterion."

Though he’s aware fans aren’t just tapping into talent when they vote.

"There's a whole soap opera going on adjacent to this show online,” the 59-year-old, who was paired with pro Emma Slater, continued. “It's a good way to sort of take the temperature of what the audience is feeling in terms of voting. I've seen forever, there's like people just like, 'Whitney's gotta go,' and I'm just like, 'What? Why?'"

After all, he thinks the 32-year-old is a perfect 10, calling her "one of the sweetest, most positive loving people" on DWTS.

While Andy was shocked, Whitney and Mark knew they’d be two-stepping out of the competition. 

"We knew, we felt it," the pro dancer told E! News’ Will Marfuggi after the semi-finals. "I think we just had a feeling."

Echoed Whitney, "We had a gut feeling it was us."

But that doesn’t mean it hurts any less.  

"You build long-lasting friendships here with production, crew—obviously with Mark," she told E!. "You spend so much time with these people every single day, so it does feel like a breakup. It’s like, I’m sad, but also I’m leaving with just a grateful heart, to have been able to experience it."

It’s a sentiment the final five celebs—including Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Elaine Hendrix, Dylan Efron and Jordan Chiles—understand. Now, as they prepare to compete for that coveted Mirrorball, take a look back on how far they’ve come this season…