Call Her Daddy
Call Her Daddy
"I think the narrative of like, well, you wanted to be in the entertainment industry and you signed up for this. I didn't sign up for that." — Whitney Levitt
"The thing I think that for Whitney, specifically, if we're talking about in this context, that I think for people was like, oh, wow, it's really powerful, is that she is a dynamic performer, and that's something that I can't teach. You're born with that, you're born with, when you walk in the room, you're like, let's get it." — Mark Ballas
"And so to sit in these moments and just be like, hey, yes, fuck you, it's not that deep, just the domino effect of even the hate online, then maybe strive to be the person to be the domino effect to not be the hate online, maybe try to say a little bit more positive things, maybe try to not have the intention to tear someone down and create that domino effect because it's so crazy, even with week five, when that hate happened, it just took that one video or it took that two comments and then it creates a domino effect." — Whitney Levitt
The episode features a candid conversation with Whitney Levitt and Mark Ballas following their elimination from "Dancing with the Stars." Levitt expresses a range of emotions, describing her experience as a "rollercoaster" akin to a "huge breakup" due to the intense daily connection with fellow contestants and the abrupt end of the competition. Ballas discusses his return to the show after past injuries and personal challenges, emphasizing his renewed commitment to performing for his family.
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the intense online backlash Levitt faced, stemming partly from her previous reality television appearance on "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives." Both Levitt and Ballas detail how this external criticism and targeted "hate" impacted their morale and the competitive environment. Levitt articulates feeling misunderstood, particularly regarding her stated intentions for appearing on "Secret Lives" to gain an opportunity on "Dancing with the Stars," which some perceived as opportunistic. Ballas defends Levitt's performance abilities, highlighting her inherent stage presence as a "dynamic performer" that cannot be taught, while acknowledging the perceived advantage of prior dance experience.
The conversation also addresses the "gamification" of voting by some online communities, where the objective became to vote against specific contestants rather than for favorites. Levitt and Ballas recount experiencing overwhelming negativity, including deeply personal and aggressive comments, underscoring the psychological toll of such public scrutiny. They express a desire for a shift towards more positive online discourse, advocating for viewers to consider the human impact of their actions and comments. Levitt also teases upcoming professional endeavors, including her first movie role and a dance-related project with Ballas.