Reality TV News
Kim Kardashian has spent years mastering life in the spotlight, but her 2008 appearance on Dancing with the Stars came when the Kardashian family was still adjusting to its rapidly growing fame. Although Kardashian now appears comfortable in front of an audience, the experience left her so overwhelmed that she reportedly prayed to be eliminated.
Kim Kardashian’s time on Dancing with the Stars took place before her celebrity status had reached its current level. The constant attention surrounding her family was still relatively new, and the pressure of competing on television quickly became difficult to handle. Kardashian has mentioned the experience several times over the years, but she is only now offering a fuller picture of just how challenging the show was for her.
Kim Kardashian prayed to get kicked off of ‘Dancing with the Stars’
When Kardashian was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars, she was seen crying away from the cameras. Many viewers assumed she was devastated to be leaving the competition, and that interpretation remained part of the story for years. During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, however, Kardashian revealed that she cried in her trailer every night and prayed that she would be sent home.
Her prayer was answered only three weeks into the season. Kardashian was paired with professional dancer Mark Ballas, who had won the previous season alongside Kristi Yamaguchi, but the partnership did not produce standout scores. Together, they averaged 18 out of 30 during their three weeks in the competition. Kardashian was eliminated while 82-year-old Cloris Leachman remained in the cast.
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She’s spoken about the experience before
Kardashian has joked about her Dancing with the Stars experience before. In 2010, she told Ellen DeGeneres that the show had traumatized her and that she would never dance again. At the time, fans largely treated the comment as a joke because Kardashian did not explain what she meant. Her latest comments suggest there was considerably more truth behind it than viewers realized.
Kardashian later looked back on the competition during an appearance on Khloé Kardashian’s podcast. She recalled the various efforts she and her family made to win votes, including creating “Vote for Kim” T-shirts and searching for paparazzi while wearing them. Looking back, both sisters agreed that the campaign was a desperate attempt to keep her in the contest.
She isn’t the only Kardashian who competed on the show
Kim was unable to make a deep run, but she is not the only Kardashian family member to compete on Dancing with the Stars. Her younger brother Rob Kardashian had a far more successful experience in the ballroom. Rob, who has since become known for keeping a low profile, competed on Season 13 in 2011 with professional partner Cheryl Burke. The pair advanced to the finale, where they finished in second place behind J.R. Martinez. Rob’s performance introduced him to a new group of fans, and Burke continued to speak warmly about the experience years later while discussing it with Kris Jenner.
Kim’s difficult run and Rob’s surprising success also prompted Dancing with the Stars producers to consider other members of the family. In 2012, a source said Kendall or Kylie Jenner could be potential cast members, while Khloé, Kourtney and other relatives were also considered possibilities. Caitlyn Jenner was reportedly in talks to join the show after separating from Kris Jenner. None of those rumored castings has happened so far, although the door has never appeared to be completely closed.