Selma Blair Chose To Leave Dancing With The Stars And Her Friends Are Proud
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In September 2022, actress Selma Blair was confirmed to be on season 31 of Dancing With The Stars (DWTS),along with some other great celebrities. Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, and she's been vocal about her journey with the disease ever since. Her decision to join DWTS for season 31 was one that she said would mark a "new chapter" in her fight against MS.
However, just recently, Blair made an important decision to leave Dancing With The Stars due to health concerns. Though the decision wasn't easy, Blair's friends are rallying in support of her decision. Let's dive into it.
7 Who Is Selma Blair?
Selma Blair in an American actress best known for her roles in Brown's Requiem, Legally Blonde, and Cruel Intentions. In 2018, Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and in 2021, a documentary was made called Introducing, Selma Blair, which details the actress' fight with MS and her adaptation to life with the disease. She also released a memoir this year called Mean Baby in which she discusses her addiction to alcohol, her relationship with her family, and her new life with MS.
6 What Is MS?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the protective coverings of the nerves. While MS can impact all patients differently, some common symptoms include fatigue, vision problems, numbness and tingling, pain, muscle spasms, and problems with mobility.
5 What Has Selma's Journey With MS Been Like?
As mentioned, Selma has been very vocal about her fight with MS. In 2020, she opened up about what living with the disease was like for her in an Instagram post. In the post she writes, "And I am lucky on a million counts. I know. And I am still feeling alone and vulnerable and scared about the future as a single mom."
Selma has shared a multitude of posts about her disease, as well as talking about her fight in her 2021 documentary. In 2022, she also took to the stage with a cane to present at the Emmy Awards. Her service dog has also joined her on many of her journeys, including to DWTS rehearsals.
4 What Has Selma's Time On DWTS Been Like?
Selma has been dancing with partner Sasha Farber on this season of DWTS. The journey was difficult for Selma because before the show, she was extremely limited in her movement, essentially being on bed rest. Practicing and performing every week is taxing for every contestant, but even more so for Selma.
Though Selma faced some physical challenges, she was among some of the highest scorers with a score of 28 in her first week on the show. In the weeks following, Selma and Sasha continued to receive high scores on their dances.
However, despite her repeated star performances, Selma recently decided to leave the show due to health concerns. Right after the announcement, Selma scored perfect 10s across the board for her final dance.
3 Why Did She Decide To Leave DWTS?
On October 17, 2022 Selma announced that she would be withdrawing from the competition. In a pre-recorded clip where Selma is talking to Sasha, she says, "I had these MRIs and the results came back and it all adds up to—I can't, I can't go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could. My body is definitely taking a hit. It's way too much for the safety of my bones...so I could do extensive damage."
For her final dance, Selma and Sasha waltzed to "What The World Needs Now Is Love" on the Star Stories themed-show. Selma said that the dance was dedicated to "everyone that has tried and hoped they could do more, but also the power in realizing it’s time to walk away."
2 What Have Her Friends Said About The Decision?
Sarah Michelle Gellar, one of Selma's closest friends, supported her decision to leave the show, saying, "Long before @dancingwiththestars I knew you were a ten, and now the world knows. Selma I've never been so proud of you (and I'm often proud of you) You make the rest of us believe that we can do anything. That we can never give up."
1 What Has Her DWTS Partner, Sasha, Said About Her Decision?
Sasha has posted multiple times about Selma's strength for joining the show and ultimately deciding to put her health first. His first post included, "You have inspired me and the whole world. This journey has been one for the record books, there was not one day that you didn’t give it your all, you showed so much dedication and determination. I am forever grateful for you and I will always have your back, you are a shining star and my champion @selmablair."
Sasha also posted another heartfelt message on Instagram alongside an emotional video, saying, "It’s never easy getting bad news, but just know Selma you are a champion, a warrior, a star, and you have inspired the whole world... I remember the first day in the studio you told me you how scared you are with all the hurdles that you face, and let this be a beautiful lesson to everyone, that you too can do anything you set your mind to, Selma is living proof."
We're all proud of Selma for putting her health first, and we're rooting for her as she continues to navigate her life with MS.
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