Selma Blair Breaks Silence On Her 'Emotional' Reason For Leaving 'Dancing With The Stars'

Actress Selma Blair has bowed out of "Dancing With the Stars" after putting on a final emotional performance alongside her pro partner Sasha Farber.

The "Legally Blonde" star, who had scaled through the previous rounds, had to withdraw from the dance reality competition due to her ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis.

After her final performance, the actress shared details about the lessons she had gained and how she felt touched by the outpouring of affection spotlighted on her.

The actress also lauded the showrunners for allowing her and a few other physically challenged stars to participate in the competition.

Read below for more details.

In an interview with Page Six, Blair shared that her departure from the 31st season of the dance reality show was emotional.

"This was a really emotional night for me," Blair, 50, told the publication. "Because it was filled with so much love for me, and my love for everyone here is really, really, really returned."

On Monday night Blair graciously withdrew from "Dancing With the Stars" due to health issues. She resigned from the competition after her final dance with her pro partner Farber.

During the show, the pair performed the waltz to Andra Day's "What The World Needs Now Is Love." The performance was choreographed in Blair's honor to symbolize the year 2018—the year she received her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis after years of sickness.

Blair's diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018 after years of sickness was highlighted in the routine's choreography. The disease's ability to wreak havoc on the nervous system brings about symptoms such as memory and speech problems, pain, tiredness, and difficulty walking.

Further reflecting on her performances, the "Cruel Intentions" star said she exceeded her expectations for the dance reality competition.

"I learned that I could do things that I didn't even think I wanted to do anymore," she said, per Page Six. "I learned that with passion and [hope] that you could feel as beautiful as the people that you're watching. That it can be inspiring."

The actress added, "For me, there's never any, like, despair in comparison when you're with a crowd like this, with these celebrities and these pros. I'm so proud of this show and this production for welcoming a couple of us [like Daniel Durant, who is deaf] where it's just a little extra of a challenge. But look at the way we just prove ourselves in different ways."

Blair shared in a pre-recorded interview package that aired before her performance on Monday night that she had to withdraw from the celebrity dancing competition due to some serious complications arising from her health.

"I had MRIs, and the results came back, and it all adds up to, I can't go on with the competition. I've pushed as far as I could," Blair was seen telling her dance partner. "With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations, and my body has taken a hit. It's way too much for the safety of my bones. I could do extensive damage that I, of course, do not want."

Blair then told him she wanted to have "one last beautiful dance" with him and emphasized the value of knowing exactly when to walk away and how it would symbolize her courage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-BYVibRR84

Blair's final performance was indeed one to remember as she thrilled the audience and the judges with her dance steps, gliding smoothly across the stage with her dance partner. Although her preannounced departure rendered her score technically unimportant, it did not appear so when all the judges gave her 10s on their scorecards.

Additionally, her performance also elicited critical praise from fans and judges. "This competition is tough for everyone. But if the others have climbed hills, you have climbed mountains," head judge Len Goodman told Blair after the performance, per Yahoo.

On Monday night, no one was eliminated due to Blair's departure. The next episode of the dance competition is slated for Tuesday with the theme "Prom Night" on Disney+.