ABC/Adam Taylor(NEW YORK) — Olympian Lolo Jones was voted off Dancing with the Stars Tuesday night, becoming the first celebrity competitor to be eliminated on the show’s 19th season.
After the judges’ scores and the viewers’ votes were combined, Jones and fashion designer Betsey Johnson learned they were both in jeopardy of going home. When Jones heard her fate, she smiled and hugged her pro partner, Keo Motsepe.
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Jones said. “I’m glad that [Johnson’s] staying. She deserves to stay and everybody here did a great job.”
The Olympian’s cha cha suffered from several missteps, and she blamed the trouble on a missed cue that she said threw off her entire performance. During the judges’ evaluation following her performance, Jones, who appeared frustrated, said she wouldn’t make any excuses and acknowledged that her performance was “awful.”
Monday night’s premiere showcased 13 competitors vying for the Mirrorball Trophy. Actor Alfonso Ribeiro leaped to the top of the leader board with a skillful jive that judges asked him to reprise Tuesday night, while Johnson brought up the rear when her routine was stymied by problems with a pink prop feather boa.
In addition to Johnson and Ribeiro, returning to compete next week are actors Antonio Sabato Jr., Randy Couture and Jonathan Bennett, actresses Lea Thompson and Janel Parrish, reality TV star Sadie Robertson, YouTube beauty guru Bethany Mota, TV talk show host Tavis Smiley, comedian Tommy Chong and NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip.
The competition continues next Monday night on ABC.
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