Whitney Leavitt Reveals She Thought Her 'Villain Persona' Would Follow Her to “Dancing With The Stars”: 'Used to the Hate'

Call Her Daddy

NEED TO KNOW

• Whitney Leavitt is speaking out for the first time since her elimination from Dancing With The Stars

• Leavitt and partner Mark Ballas discussed their elimination and ongoing backlash with Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper

• Leavitt revealed she has officially been cast in her first ever movie

Whitney Leavittmay have exited the ballroom, but it's not stopping her from taking center stage.

One day after theDancing with the Starsfinale aired on ABC,The Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesstar, 32, appeared on the Nov. 26 episode ofCall Her Daddyalongside her dance partner, Mark Ballas.

Podcast hostAlex Coopergave them the chance to showcase the freestyle routine they never got to perform onDWTSand a venue for Whitney to announce her casting in a movie.

At the start of the episode, which was recorded before theDWTSfinale, Whitney confessed that she felt "a roller coaster of emotions" after getting eliminated during the semi-finals. "I feel grateful, but I also feel sad," she shared.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

She also opened up about the backlash she and Mark faced, noting that she was critiqued for having previous dance experience because she earned a degree in Modern Dance at Brigham Young University. "As far as [her dance experience] went," Whitney began, "this was still very new to me."

Whitney also said she learned how to faceDWTSaudiences amid the ongoing backlash. Despite being "used to the hate" thanks to her role inMormon Wives, she still had to watch Mark grapple with the onslaught of online criticism each week.

"I already knew like the persona that I had in the media," Whitney said of being viewed as the "villain" onMormon Wives. "I just felt like that was gonna carry with me ontoDancing With The Stars."

Call Her Daddy

According to Whitney, the "hardest part" of the backlash was watching Mark's reaction.

"I had experienced it, but having someone that I loved and cared about so much experiencing that, in turn, hurt me," she said. "Then we experienced it together."

Whitney said she's "definitely become a little bit more desensitized" to negative feedback, but she said it was "triggering" to watch someone experience that for the first time.

"At times, I felt like it was my fault because I was like, 'Oh, maybe it's because of me. Maybe it's because he's partnered with me,' " she said. "So then it felt like my fault. It was just like a roller coaster of emotions during that time."

Mark also shared one of the many "relentless" comments he received: "Are you that cheap of a c--- to rot and do this? Damn. You're special. You're completely worthless, and I hope you f------ burn in hell one day."

Disney/Eric McCandless

The pair also acknowledged that the increase in hateful comments began at the five-week mark, which was Dedication Night. "It just exploded, and then it just went south," Whitney recalled.

She also acknowledged thatMormon Wivesseason 3 premiering days before she was eliminated may have contributed to shifting opinions.

DuringMormon Wives,she candidly said she rejoined the show to audition forDWTS."I was very clear why I came back that season," and audiences were split on their reaction. "You either had respect for it, or you were like, 'Oh my gosh,' " Whitney said.

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While Whitney suspects that could be a contributing factor, Mark noted that although he's "not too privy to"Mormon Wivesdrama, he "couldn't even pinpoint" their elimination to one thing. "Sometimes this s--- happens," he said.

"I think with such a stacked cast and really great talent, great talent all around, you get to the point where we don't know the votes," Mark said. "Maybe some week, someone who's been voting one way will be like, 'You know what? I'm gonna throw these votes this way.' "

At theDWTSseason 34 finale, Whitney toldVarietyshe would return toThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesfor its fourth season.

View this post on Instagram

The podcast appearance comes afterWhitney tearfully shared her takeawaysfrom the competition in a video on Instagram on Thursday, Nov. 20.

View this post on Instagram

"I'm just gonna speak from the heart, and share what I'm feeling," the reality star began. "I share the good, I share the bad, I share the ugly. So I'm just gonna keep doing that."

Through tears, Whitney went on to say, "When you're casted onDancing with the Stars, you are seeing these people hours every single day. Then it just stops. It genuinely feels like a breakup. It feels like I'm, like, going through withdrawals right now. Today just felt so weird."

Disney/Eric McCandless

Whitney concluded the video by thanking Mark, saying that she will "forever be so grateful" for their friendship.

"Like, I loved every bit of it, but the one thing that I have loved the most that I wasn't expecting was getting a lifelong friend, a friend who makes fart noises every single day," she added of Ballas. I'm just so grateful. I love you guys. And I f------- love this show."

Read the original article onPeople

byNeo

in

November 26, 2025

Whitney Leavitt Reveals She Thought Her 'Villain Persona' Would Follow Her to “Dancing With The Stars”: 'Used to the Hate'

Call Her Daddy NEED TO KNOW Whitney Leavitt is speaking out for the first time since her elimination from Dancing With The Stars Leavitt ...

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Black Friday arrives with solid momentum despite tariffs and economic uncertainty

NEW YORK (AP) —Black Fridaymay no longer be the retail bacchanalia of years past, when the promise of one-time bargains caused people to leave Thanksgiving tables for malls where some customers got into fistfights over toys or TVs. But the event still has enough enthusiasts to make it the biggest shopping day in the U.S.

For that reason, the day retains its crown as the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year's kickoff comes as companies navigate an uncertain economic environment and wrestle with the volatility ofPresident Donald Trump's wide-rangingtariffson imported goods.

Many have absorbed some of the costs and pulled back onhiringinstead of raising prices for customers.Consumer confidencein the U.S. economy fell this month to the lowest since April — whenTrump announced his tariffs— in the aftermath of thegovernment shutdown,weak hiringand stubborn inflation, according to a report The Conference Board issued Tuesday.

Shoppers nonetheless have remained resilient and willing to spend, at least judging by the solid quarterly sales reports fromWalmart,Best Buyand other retailers. But many retail executives also say customers are focusing on deals and have been selective in what they're buying.

Aron Boxer, 50, from Greenwich, Connecticut, said he delayed buying a car this year amid worries about tariffs. He said he'll be looking for deals on toys on Cyber Monday but is also willing to wait to the end for the best discount.

"The tariffs definitely are not behind me, and I am concerned about it," the founder of an educational services company and a life coaching service said. "I did consider buying earlier this year, but I feel like some people made some pretty bad business decisions anticipating tariffs to have a bigger impact than they did."

Still, analysts and mall executives cited solid momentum heading into Black Friday week.

"We're seeing a very positive start to the holiday season," said Jill Renslow, chief business development and marketing officer at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, which plans to give gift cards and other giveaways to the first 250 customers who show up at 7 a.m. on Friday. "The last few Saturdays in November have been very strong."

Mall traffic heading into Black Friday surpassed the numbers from pre-pandemic 2019, Renslow said.

A forecast from the National Retail Federation, the nation's largest retail trade group, predicted a healthy increase in holiday sales. The group estimated that shoppers would collectively spend between $1.01 trillion and $1.02 trillion in November and December, or 3.7% to 4.2% more than last year.

Retailers rung up $976 billion in holiday sales last year, or a 4.3% increase from 2023, the group said.

Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks spending across all payment methods including cash, predicted a 3.6% increase in holiday sales from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24. That compares with a 4.1% increase last year.

"Clearly, there's uncertainty," Mastercard Chief Economist Michelle Meyer said. "Clearly, consumers feel on edge. But at the moment, it doesn't seem like it's changing how they are showing up for this season."

Online sales have been strong so far. From Nov. 1 to Sunday, consumers spent $79.7 billion, according to Adobe Analytics. That represented a gain of 7.5% from a year earlier and was bigger than Adobe's 5.3% growth forecast for the season.

Tariffs have played a role in stores' merchandising and pricing strategies. Many retailers accelerated shipments of some holiday merchandise before the tariffs took effect while also absorbing some of the extra import costs. But stores still have passed on some of the expense for items like toys, which are largely sourced in China.

Market research firm Circana's retail tracking service examined various subcategories of general merchandise and found 40% of all general merchandise sold in September saw a price increase of at least 5% compared with the first four months of the year.

Toys, baby products, housewares, and team sports equipment were among the hardest hit. For example, 83% of toys sold in September saw an increase of at least 5%, Circana said.

That number was up from 32% in June and will go even higher in coming months, according to Marshal Cohen, the firm's chief industry advisor.

Some executives have noticed retailers advertising tamer holiday discounts. Mall of America's Renslow said deals didn't show up at the mall as early as she anticipated. But she estimated store tenants had ramped up this week with discounts in the range of 30% to 50%. She thinks they'll likely go deeper for the weekend.

Stephen Lebovitz, CEO ofCBL Properties, which operates 85 shopping properties, also noted unimpressive holiday discounting.

"I think one of the benefits of the tariffs or the silver lining is that the inventory levels for the retailers are leaner, and they've tried to allow themselves to keep pricing power," he said.

byNeo

in

November 26, 2025

Black Friday arrives with solid momentum despite tariffs and economic uncertainty

NEW YORK (AP) —Black Fridaymay no longer be the retail bacchanalia of years past, when the promise of one-time bargains c...

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2 National Guard members shot in an ambush attack just blocks from the White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two West VirginiaNational Guard memberswho deployed to the nation's capital were shot Wednesday afternoon just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence that the mayor described as a targeted attack.

FBI Director Kash Patel and WashingtonMayor Muriel Bowsersaid they were hospitalized in critical condition.

The rare shooting of National Guard members, on the day before Thanksgiving, comes as the presence of the troops in the nation's capital and other cities around the country has been a flashpoint issue for months, fuelingcourt fightsand a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration's use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem.

A suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

The 29-year-old suspect, an Afghan national, entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from the country, officials said.

The initiative brought roughly 76,000 people to the U.S., many of whom had worked alongside U.S. troops and diplomats as interpreters and translators. It has since faced intense scrutiny from Trump and his allies, congressional Republicans and some government watchdogs over gaps in the vetting process and the speed of admissions, even as advocates say it offered a lifeline to people at risk of Taliban reprisals.

The suspect, who has been living in Washington state, has been identified by law enforcement officials as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, but authorities were still working to fully confirm his background, two law enforcement officials and a person familiar with the matter said. The people could not discuss details of an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Lakamal arrived in Bellingham, Washington, about 79 miles (127.1 kilometers) north of Seattle, with his wife and five children, said his former landlord Kristina Widman.

Wednesday night, in a video message released on social media, President Donald Trump called for the reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees who entered under the Biden administration.

"If they can't love our country, we don't want them," he said, adding that the shooting was "a crime against our entire nation."

Jeffery Carroll, an executive assistant D.C. police chief, said investigators had no information on a motive. He said the assailant "came around the corner" and immediately started firing at the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.

"This was a targeted shooting," Bowser said.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially said the troops had died, but he later walked that statement back to say his office was "receiving conflicting reports" about their condition.

The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump asked him to send the troops.

Nearly 2,200 troops currently are assigned to the joint task force operating in the city, according to the government's latest update.

Troops held down the shooter

The shooting happened roughly two blocks northwest of the White House near a metro station. Hearing gunfire, other troops in the area ran over and held down the gunman after he was shot, Carroll said.

"It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard," Carroll said, adding that it was not clear whether one of the guard members or a law enforcement officer shot the suspect.

"At this point we have no other suspects," Carroll said at a news conference.

At least one of the guard members exchanged gunfire with the shooter, said another law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Social media video shared in the immediate aftermath showed first responders performing CPR on one of the troops and treating the other on a glass-covered sidewalk.

Witnesses saw people fleeing

Stacy Walters said she was in a car when she heard two gunshots and saw people running. Almost instantly, law enforcement swarmed the area. "It's such a beautiful day. Who would do this? And we're getting ready for the holidays?"

Emma McDonald, who exited a metro station just after the shots were fired, said she and a friend sought safety with others in a cafe. McDonald told AP that minutes later she saw first responders rolling a stretcher carrying a National Guard member whose head was covered in blood.

Police tape cordoned off the scene, and fire and police vehicle lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead. Agents from the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were there, and National Guard troops stood sentry nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.

"I think it's a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they're active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America," Vice President JD Vance said in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he delivered a Thanksgiving message to troops.

Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, scrapped plans to spend the holiday with troops at Guantanamo Bay in order to travel to D.C. and be with guard members there instead.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said on social media that he visited the wounded National Guard members in the hospital and that his "heart breaks for them."

Troops deployed to DC under emergency order

Trump issued anemergency orderin August that federalized the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia. The order expired a month later, but the troops remained.

Last week a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment, but she also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the administration time to either remove the troops or appeal.

The guard members have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and been assigned to pick up trash and guard sports events.

More than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed in August. About 160 of them volunteered last week to extend their deployment until the end of the year, while the others returned home just over a week ago.

This story has been updated to correct that the Washington police official's first name is spelled Jeffery, not Jeffrey.

Associated Press journalists Konstantin Toropin, Seung Min Kim, Safiyah Riddle, Matt Brown, Mike Balsamo, Eric Tucker, Jesse Bedayn, Evan Vucci, Nathan Ellgren, John Raby, Hallie Golden, Michael R. Sisak and John Seewer contributed.

byNeo

in

November 26, 2025

2 National Guard members shot in an ambush attack just blocks from the White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two West VirginiaNational Guard memberswho deployed to the nation's capital were shot Wednesday aft...

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