Ciara Miller is still processing her shocking Dancing With the Stars elimination.
“It’s just sad, like, obviously, [I] loved being here. [It was] so fun, such a challenge and it was so nice getting to challenge myself every week and doing new things,” Miller, 30, tearfully revealed during the Thursday, October 8, episode of the official DWTS companion podcast. “I hate that it’s cut short, and [I’m] just bummed.”
Miller and her pro partner, Brandon Armstrong, were sent home during the Tuesday, October 6, live episode following their high-energy jazz routine to Mariah Carey’s “Emotions.” Earning a score of 21 out of 30, the judges even gushed how the Summer House star had been improving throughout the competition.
While discussing their ballroom departure on Thursday, Miller also cried while thanking Armstrong, 32, for his support.
“Brandon is really so patient and I don’t take for granted how annoying it is to probably have to basically carry someone around, essentially, and teach them all the things and all the ropes,” Miller added. “Even just having anxiety and that being so annoying sometimes, and he’s so patient and, like, never made me feel bad about it and really did help talk me through everything and, like, allowed me the space to just be, but also offered words [of support and advice.”
Miller felt particularly “grateful” to be paired with Armstong on DWTS.
“I, obviously, hate straight men, but I will say a part of that has been really healing and having a guy show up week after week,” she said. “Even though it’s been a short process, to have someone be reliable and present and cheering you on, it’s hard to, like, put into words. I feel like it was everything I needed right on time.”
Armstrong, for his part, agreed he was “bummed” that Miller’s ballroom dance journey was cut short.
“I think it’s hard because there’s some core values that I would hold precious to the show, you know, and I think that there’s a lot of talk and conversation around who’s trying hard and who’s not or who’s deserving or who’s not,” Armstrong stated. “I’ve been around the show for a long time, and I think everybody works very hard. I think Ciara, if you saw the amount of hours that she put into it, it’s unbelievably hard.”
He continued, “Where I get so bummed is that my value in the show is that people should be progressing and getting better, and I think that should count for a lot. It bums me out that more people at the house don’t see that or don’t appreciate that.”
Armstrong further offered his own apology to Miller for not having an “ending that you would like to have on a journey that had so much progress” already.
“She has made a name, created a space for herself on a reality TV show [and] in a field that [where] you don’t get to show off a lot of depth of character,” the choreographer added of the Bravo star. “I think, within the first week, I very quickly realized how thoughtful she is about things and things that are very important in life.”
Armstrong concluded, “She deserves better out of this process because of her character. I think it’s cool to see and I think it’s cool to show people a different side of her.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
