Did Hilaria Baldwin Join DWTS Due to Financial Struggles? The Real Story

Hilaria Baldwin, a yoga instructor and entrepreneur, was eliminated from Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) Season 34 in October 2025. The iconic reality show, where celebrities partner with professional dancers, welcomed Baldwin as a contestant this season, generating speculation about how she secured her spot.

Did Hilaria Baldwin Ask to Be on DWTS?
Reports from RadarOnline suggested that Baldwin “begged” producers to let her join DWTS, citing her family’s financial strain amid her husband Alec Baldwin’s legal issues. Alec faced intense scrutiny after the 2021 Rust set incident, which led to a fatal shooting and several lawsuits, ultimately dismissed after trial. Sources claimed Baldwin was a late addition after another celebrity dropped out:

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"She was never at the top of their list. Honestly, she wasn’t even ON the list. But when a star bailed, Hilaria was standing by with her dance shoes already packed."

However, Hilaria addressed these claims on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, explaining that she was invited after fans noticed her dance content on TikTok. She called it a “magical twist of fate” and clarified that Julianne Hough’s comments about social media campaigning weren’t accurate:

"I don’t know where she got that from. I loved it. Because I saw that too, and I was like, 'That’s not how it happened.' But I love that story, I actually love that story. I wish I had manifested it... I guess it depends on which way you look at it."

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Hilaria Baldwin’s DWTS Exit
Baldwin and her professional partner, Gleb Savchenko, were eliminated on October 7, 2024. Speaking to E! News, she expressed some disappointment with the voting system but emphasized that she enjoyed every moment on the show:

"There is a strategy where voters will vote for everybody else to drown down the couple they don’t want to make it. It’s a reality show, not just a dance competition. I just love to dance, and I wanted to have a good time. Every single moment was just so fun, and I’m very grateful for the experience."

Who Is Hilaria Baldwin?
Hilaria Baldwin is a yoga instructor, author, and entrepreneur. She co-founded Yoga Vida, a chain of New York studios, and released a wellness book and exercise DVD. Baldwin rose to fame after marrying actor Alec Baldwin, 26 years her senior. The couple shares seven children, with their family life featured on TLC’s The Baldwins.