On Dancing With the Stars, Selma Blair is taking her last bow. The Cruel Intentions actress confessed on Monday’s program that she could no longer compete in the dance competition owing to her continuing struggle with multiple sclerosis.
Blair told her dance partner Sasha Farber, “I’ve been evaluated, I had MRIs, and the results came back, and it all adds up to the reality that I can’t continue with the competition.” “I’ve exerted all of my efforts.
With a chronic condition, you have to be careful, and my body has taken a hit. It’s much too much for the safety of my bones. I may do serious damage, which I, of course, do not want.”
Blair was nevertheless determined to do one more dance with Farber, a Waltz set to Andra Day’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love.”
“I want to have one last lovely dance with you before I depart,” she said. “So, this is a dance for everyone who has tried and wished they could do more, but also for the strength in knowing when it’s time to walk away; I am so, so glad to be able to perform one final gentle dance.”
After the presentation, the entire ballroom was in tears, and the couple returned to the stage to perform.
“If the others have climbed hills, you have climbed mountains,” Len Goodman said, while Derek Hough added, “You’ve given nothing but joy to everyone, always with a grin… thank you for sharing this trip with us all.”
Meanwhile, judge Bruno Tonioli hailed Blair an inspiration to “millions,” while Carrie Ann Inaba described witnessing Blair dance as a “live breathing, beautifully moving wonder.”
The 50-year-old actress addressed the crowd one more time, telling presenter Alfonso Ribeiro that it was nice to watch the audience react to her and Farber’s efforts on the dance floor.
I don’t believe people understand what this show means to us here, especially this season, and it’s so rewarding to see how the fans respond to every one of us and our efforts, according to Blair.
I wish I could stay and take in more. I am so proud of everyone, including the crowd for coming to watch us.
In terms of her decision to pull back, she explained that she didn’t want to push herself to a point from which she couldn’t recover.
It was a great lesson for her to learn how to link her body and emotions via music and Sasha, she said. Amazing things do occur, and I wish to encourage people by saying that.