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On the 'DWTS' Scene: Brandy Is 'Numb' Over Her Shocking Exit
by Michael Maloney, posted Nov 17th 2010 11:00AM
Season 11 of 'Dancing With the Stars' has had more than its share of shocking exits, but none more than Brandy Norwood and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy being sent home on last night's results show. Many predicted that the singer would advance to the finals, but her surprise departure means that teen activist Bristol Palin, who not only entered the contest with no dance or performing experience but also scored consistently low with the judges, is going to the final round along with actress Jennifer Grey and actor Kyle Massey.
The three finalist duos walked the post-show press line, understandably enthusiastic over their victories, but members of the press had one question on their minds: How has Palin managed to make it to the finals?
"I've known that I've worked hard to get to where I am now," Palin said. "I definitely feel like I'm one of the most improved dancers on the show."
Mark Ballas, Palin's partner, said that 'DWTS' has always been unpredictable, but Norwood's exit is "not as crazy as Sabrina Bryan going home [in season 5] or that Joanna Krupa went home [in season 9] or that Mel B. didn't win [in season 5]."
"This competition has been unpredictable from the beginning of the season," said Lacey Schwimmer, Massey's pro partner.
Massey pointed out that viewer votes have a significant part in the process. "It's not just the judges' scores," he said. "Personally, I think everyone deserves to be here."
Derek Hough, Grey's pro partner and two-time 'DWTS' champion, said he "couldn't believe that Brandy was going home. We always thought she was going to the finals. [But] we don't see what the mass audience [feels], being here in our own little world. We don't know what [the voters] are doing out there. You can't take [Bristol's victory] away from her. To see her journey is pretty phenomenal."
His partner, Grey, added that "Bristol has improved enormously."
"Brandy's amazing," said Chelsie Hightower, who walked the press line to promote two new dance DVDS ('Dancing With the Stars Ballroom Buns & Abs' and 'Dancing With the Stars Fat-Burning Cardio Dance') in which she appears. "It's sad to see her go. At the same time, [the show] is about popularity -- especially at this point in the game."
Norwood said she was "numb" after her shocking exit. "It's going to be hit me tomorrow. I don't have any regrets. I gave it everything I had. I am so proud of Maks and of me, and I say that humbly. I've tapped into a power that I thought was gone. I'm so thankful for that."
"I'm absolutely fine," Chmerkovskiy said. "Brandy taught me that when one door closes another one opens, and that there's definitely a bunch of doors being opened now. I feel blessed that I'm here."
In Touch Weekly recently quoted Palin as saying that Chmerkovskiy didn't like her, but Maks set the record straight on the matter. "I never said that I didn't like her," he clarified. "I'm just a dancer. I express my opinion when it comes to dancing."
Does the Ukranian native think that Palin deserves to be in the finals? "It's a little unfair to answer that," he responded. "I'm sure in their minds that Tony [Dovolani] and Audrina [Patridge] and Rick [Fox] think that their exits this season were shocking. Mario Lopez not winning [in season 3] was shocking. I let people [at home] decide."
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