Emma Slater Terrified Dancing with the Stars Fans with Two Words That Had Them Fearing the Worst

Dancing with the Stars fans thought they were getting terrible news.

One beloved pro dancer sent shockwaves through social media with what looked like a farewell message.

And Emma Slater terrified Dancing with the Stars fans with two words that had them fearing the worst.

Emma Slater’s social media post sends fans into panic mode

Dancing with the Stars has been a staple of American television for over two decades.

The show brings together celebrities and professional dancers who compete for the coveted mirrorball trophy.

Professional dancer Emma Slater has been part of the DWTS family since 2013 when she was promoted from the troupe to become one of the show’s featured pros.

She’s won the competition once, taking home the mirrorball trophy in 2017 with her partner Rashad Jennings.

But on Sunday, September 7, Slater posted something on social media that had fans convinced she was saying goodbye to the show for good.

"Thank you #DWTS for the journey of a lifetime 🥹you never know when your time is up so I’m gunna love it every single day," she wrote on TikTok, accompanied by footage of herself alone in one of the DWTS studios.

She shared the same video on Instagram with a similar message: "Thank you #DWTS for the journey of a lifetime 🥹 @dancingwiththestars."

The phrases "journey of a lifetime" and "you never know when your time is up" sent the DWTS fanbase into full panic mode.

Fans immediately feared the worst about Emma’s future

The reaction from fans was swift and emotional.

"Did her partner Andy Richter pull out of the show, so she doesn’t have a replacement?" one worried TikTok user speculated in the comments.

Another fan wrote, "Why does this feel like a goodbye video? yet the season hasn’t even started yet."

A third person captured what many were thinking: "WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IM PANICKING."

The timing made the post even more concerning for fans.

Dancing with the Stars Season 34 is set to premiere on September 16, and Slater is already paired up with comedian Andy Richter.

So why would she be posting what sounded like a farewell message just days before the new season kicks off?

Reason behind Emma’s emotional message

Not all fans were buying into the panic.

Some longtime viewers of the show recognized that Slater might just be feeling grateful for her time on the series.

"Theres a good chance this is just emma being a millennial while were thinking somethings wrong," one level-headed TikTok user wrote.

Another fan tried to calm everyone down: "YALLLLL emma is just feeling super grateful and there’s NOTHING wrong with it, this season hasn’t even started yet so nothing to worry about !!!"

This second comment got Emma’s attention in a big way.

She liked the comment, which seemed to confirm that she wasn’t actually planning to leave DWTS anytime soon.

The heart on that comment was Emma’s way of telling fans to relax – she’s not going anywhere.

Why DWTS fans are always on edge about their favorite pros

The fan panic over Emma’s post makes perfect sense when you understand how Dancing with the Stars actually works behind the scenes.

Professional dancers on the show aren’t guaranteed spots each season.

The producers make decisions about which pros to bring back, and sometimes fan favorites get left out.

Fellow pro dancer Daniella Karagach explained the nerve-wracking process in a June interview with CinemaBlend.

"We usually learn about that like a few days [before it’s announced on] Good Morning America, like around that time," Karagach revealed.

"There’s like a few days where we kind of start practicing with our partners, and when we do our first meet, like a few days before that, is when we find out."

So these dancers literally don’t know if they have jobs until just days before the season starts.

Emma’s ex-husband got cut from this season

The fear among fans wasn’t completely unfounded.

When the Season 34 cast was announced earlier this month, longtime pro Sasha Farber was notably absent from the lineup.

Farber, who happens to be Emma Slater’s ex-husband, had been a regular on the show for years.

His reaction to getting cut showed just how tough this business can be.

"Who are you going to vote for? I mean, I know who I’m going to vote for," he said in an Instagram Story video on September 3.

"I know who you’re not going to vote for, that’s me. That’s OK."

He continued with class: "Thank you so much for all your incredible messages. I read them all. I see it all. I definitely don’t deserve you because you guys are amazing."

Seeing Emma’s ex-husband get the boot probably made fans extra sensitive to any hint that she might be next.

Emma Slater’s long journey with Dancing with the Stars

Emma Slater’s DWTS story is actually one of the show’s biggest success stories.

She started as a member of the troupe back in the early days, working her way up through the ranks.

When she finally got promoted to pro status in Season 17 in 2013, she made the most of her opportunity.

Her partnership with former NFL player Rashad Jennings in Season 24 was television gold.

The two had incredible chemistry on the dance floor and consistently delivered performances that had the judges and audience on their feet.

When they won that mirrorball trophy in 2017, it was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

Now Emma’s gearing up for another shot at glory with comedian Andy Richter in Season 34.

The variety factor that keeps DWTS fresh

Part of what makes Dancing with the Stars work is the unpredictability.

You never know which celebrities will surprise you and which ones will struggle.

You also never know which pro dancers will get the chance to compete each season.

That uncertainty keeps fans invested and on the edge of their seats.

Emma’s emotional social media post was just the latest reminder that nothing on this show is guaranteed.

But for now, fans can breathe easy knowing their favorite pro dancer isn’t going anywhere.

Dancing with the Stars Season 34 premieres Tuesday, September 16 at 8/7c on ABC and will be available the next day on Hulu.

¹ Paige Strout, "’DWTS’: Did Emma Slater Just Tease Early Exit From Show? Why Fans Are Concerned," TV Insider, September 8, 2025.