It was all chills and thrills on Week 7 of Dancing with the Stars, as Halloween Night took over the ballroom with eerie elegance and emotional high stakes. The remaining nine couples donned their spookiest attire and delivered a variety of themed performances that spanned everything from vampiric love stories to ghostly waltzes.
The highlight of the evening was the return of the “Dance Monster-thon,” where all couples shared the floor in a dance marathon featuring the Hustle and the Lindy Hop. Staying in character while outlasting competitors proved key, and Whitney and Mark danced their way to victory, earning crucial bonus points.
Emotions ran high as the episode ended with the elimination of Jen Affleck and her partner Jan Ravnik. Jen, visibly moved, said her journey was for her children, while husband Zac Affleck shed tears in the audience. Their Contemporary performance to Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” marked their farewell, despite receiving solid praise from the judges.
The ballroom also saw real-life scares. Elaine Hendrix was rushed to the hospital with a rib injury and was judged based on rehearsal footage. Despite the setback, she remained in the competition—earning support from the panel and viewers alike.
Tensions also simmered off the dance floor, with former DWTS pro Maks Chmerkovskiy criticizing Jan Ravnik’s credentials. The controversy added fuel to an already high-pressure week, with Jen and Jan cheekily referencing the drama in their performance choice.
Among the top scorers, Alix Earle stood out with a razor-sharp Tango that scored 39, while Robert Irwin wowed the judges with a sultry Argentine Tango that earned 38. Whitney’s eerie Jazz routine scored 37, cementing her as a front-runner.
Notably, Dylan Efron danced through a broken nose, delivering a Viennese Waltz full of chemistry and heart. Jordan Chiles brought a deeply personal performance, symbolizing her struggle with depression through a creative harness prop and athletic Contemporary routine.
Cheryl Burke returned to the judging panel for the first time since her emotional 2022 departure. Offering constructive critiques and channeling Len Goodman’s legacy, she reminded contestants that careful dancing won’t win the mirrorball.
Adding to the night’s levity, the show briefly paused to reveal PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive poll winners. Derek Hough and Dylan Efron picked up tongue-in-cheek honors, adding some cheeky glamour to an otherwise intense evening.
As the competition heats up, Halloween Night proved that this season’s stars are not only dancing for scores—they’re dancing through setbacks, scrutiny, and real stakes.