Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy faced an unexpected digital crisis just hours before the Season 34 finale, when his TikTok account was compromised in what appears to be a targeted attack. The incident added drama to an already high-stakes competition week, though Chmerkovskiy and his partner managed to push through to the final night of competition.
The Hack Strikes at the Worst Possible Time
On the day before the Season 34 finale, Chmerkovskiy discovered his TikTok had been hacked, with all his recent video view counts mysteriously reset to zero. He shared the troubling news on Instagram Stories, posting screenshots of his affected content and expressing frustration about the timing. "So the day before the finale, my TikTok gets hacked," he captioned the post, making it clear this wasn't just a minor glitch.
The situation escalated when his Season 34 partner,
Alix Earle, experienced similar social media troubles. In a text exchange Chmerkovskiy shared with followers, Earle revealed her own Instagram posting issues. "All my videos are under review haha someone's f****
with me," Chmerkovskiy texted her, to which she replied, "Same. And my IG won't post." He called the coordinated attacks "insane," highlighting how unusual it was for both accounts to be targeted simultaneously.
Back to Normal—Just in Time
Fortunately, by the time the finale rolled around, both accounts had been restored to normal functionality. Chmerkovskiy's TikTok views were no longer sitting at zero, and the social media disruptions appeared to have been resolved. The timing could have been devastating for the pair's momentum heading into the competition, but they managed to recover and focus on what mattered most: their performances.
The Finale Competition
Despite the digital drama, Chmerkovskiy and Earle competed in the Season 34 finale on November 25, 2025, facing off against several strong contenders including Robert Irwin
and Witney Carson
, Jordan Chiles
and Ezra Sosa
, Dylan Efron
and Daniella Karagach
, and Elaine Hendrix
and Alan Bersten
.
The finale featured three separate routines for each couple: a judges' choice dance, an instant dance, and a freestyle routine—with the freestyle being the most highly anticipated performance of the night. The winner was determined by combining audience votes with judges' scores.
A Bittersweet Finish
Ultimately, Chmerkovskiy and Earle finished in second place
, with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson taking home the Mirrorball Trophy. Despite not winning, Earle remained gracious about the outcome, telling viewers she had "no hard feelings" and called it "the best night ever." For her, the competition represented far more than just a chance to win—it was a transformative personal journey that "changed my life," she reflected in post-season interviews.
The hacking incident, while disruptive, ultimately didn't derail what proved to be a memorable run for the duo on the dance floor.
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Entertainment Now - Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy React in Post-Season Interviews
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4. Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy | Dancing With The Stars Finale 2025
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