Wirra stops Dancing
AFL footballer David Wirrpanda quits Dancing with the Stars to allow better dancers to continue. "I’m prepared to step aside."
- Published by David Knox
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AFL footballer David Wirrpanda has quit Dancing with the Stars, to allow his castmates to remain in the contest.
Wirrpanda advised host Daniel MacPherson of his decision just minutes before the show was due to eliminate another contestant.
“For me to develop as a dancer, it’s going to take more time,” he said. “These guys – who will be my friends for life- deserve to go on with the show and have a crack at the Grand Final. I’m prepared to step aside to make sure they get that chance.”
The live TV moment was so impromptu that MacPherson still had to check with Producers if quitting the show was allowed, but he got the thumbs up.
Judge Todd McKenney said, “You are doing the right thing. You’re being a gentleman and giving respect to your fellow performers. I commend you completely.”
Wirrapanda and Liza Van Pelt languished at the bottom of the score board for the seventh time this series with 36 points for two dances, but had proven popular with viewers. As Sonia Kruger pointed out, Wirrapanda becomes the first contestant to leave the show voluntarily across its 10 seasons.
But he is far from the first Reality contestant to quit a show mid-series. Last year schoolteacher Toby Moulton withdrew from Australian Idol on air. In the first Idol series, Cosima DeVito famously quit the show as one of the final 3 singers.
Public votes for Dancing contestants are said to be “rolled over” into next week, although the show has again opened its phone lines for SMS voting.
On last night’s show, singer Tamara Jaber pulled 3 perfect tens for her salsa routine with Carmelo Pizzino.
The show has a two and a half hour live finale on August 29th.
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- Tagged with AFL, Australian Idol, Dancing with the Stars
14 Responses
There had actually been a rumour circulating on Sydney radio that someone was wanting to leave the show, which fellow contestant George had refused to confirm or deny, so I don’t believe any of that was spur-of-the-moment tv.
Dave the Farmer tried to quit back in his season when he was in the bottom two with (eventual winner) Kate Ceberano. It was the week he was voted off anyway but they didn’t let him go through with it (pretty much revealing they knew who was going).
@jh, no, in ten series of DWTS, there has never been any mention of how much money the contestants raise for charity. There is a complete lack of transparency with the public vote, it stinks of a rip-off. Most of the money raised by the public votes is split between Telstra and Seven. The charities get what is left after that.
I blame the judges as it was so obvious week after week that they didn’t want him there. Yes he isn’t the best dancer, but people were voting for him, that’s the way it goes. If DWTS were looking for Australia’s best D list dancing celebrity perhaps then they shouldn’t open the voting to the public.
i was really starting to hate him especially after esther got eliminated and the public vote didn’t even get him in the bottom 2. but after this move i have a lot more respect for him. there will probably be rumours that he was not comitted and is cowering out but they won’t convince me, it was a very courageous move and surely he is not that good an actor.
i didn’t watch the whole show i was tuning in during ads of other shows. and i saw todd riding a camel through the studio. great tv. tamara is an amazing dancer and great personality. rob is full of surprises and alex has come such a long way since week 1. i’d be happy if any of them won from here.
I have no time for AFL or DWTS, but David Wirrpanda is loved and respected in the West for his dedication to furthering indigenous health and culture, and bridging the divide. This is just a reflection of his sense of fair play.
Has there still been no indication of how much money goes to the represented charities ‘per vote’ ?
Wirra was by far the worst dancer and it was a joke that he still remained. In fact the whole elimination thing lacks credibility as it is a personality contest not a dancing contest. Isn’t this show past it’s used by date?
who??
didn’t the same thing happen last year. this sort of stuff looks staged every time.
I don’t believe the votes will be “rolled over”, like we would really know. They just said that to appease the audience. They just want to make more money out of us.
Sorry to be a pedant – David’s surname is Wirrpanda.
Good on him.
It was something of a travesty to see him staying week after week while genuinely better dancers had to leave.
It must have offended his own sense of fair play, great to see him take this step, he proves himself to be a sportsman in every sense of the word.
I haven’t seen any of this series, but this sort of stuff on a show where the public Pay good money to vote is just so bad. It’s happened before on Australian Idol – but it shouldn’t be allowed to. There are valid reasons (such as injury) why someone would not be able to continue. Because you just don’t feel like continuing is not one them.