Kim Zolciak and her pro partner, Tony Dovolani have been campaigning all week via social media for a chance to return to Dancing with the Stars after Kim was forced to withdraw on Monday. The campaign culminated Tuesday night with a request from Kim to sign an online petition.
The petition has over 20,000 signatures, which is crazy, because online petitions, particularly in regard to changing the minds of network executives, are an exercise in futility. Just as TV shows that are cancelled are never coming back, no matter how hard the fans rally, a favorite reality star who has been disqualified or eliminated ain’t never coming back either. Buck up and move on before you embarrass yourselves.
But if the reality star in question is leading the charge? The facepalming never ends. The week is almost over, Dancing with the Stars and the remaining 10 contestants are deep in preparations for next week’s show. Bringing Kim back NOW would simply be unfair, as judge Carrie Ann Inaba explained to People magazine backstage at PETA’s 35th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
“I always love somebody who doesn’t give up, okay. I think that that’s a wonderful spirit to have. You should never give up. However … our rules say that she [Kim] has to be out. I think that it would be unfair to the other competitors if she came back because she did not compete.
“She got a week to rest and our show is tough. Having a week to rest could make a huge difference in the future of her competition, so I kind of think that it’s okay the way it is. I wish her well, though. I’m very glad to hear that she’s doing well health-wise.”
At the same event, dance pro, Kym Johnson, weighed in on the controversy as well.
“The rules are the rules and it was really unfortunate what happened. I think her health has to take priority and you know that’s the rules. … I feel bad for Tony, poor thing. But I think it wouldn’t be fair to the other couples then as well that were there and could actually dance.”
Last week, the reality star suffered a mini-stroke. She spent a few days in the hospital, rehearsed with Tony on Saturday, but was not cleared to fly from her home in Atlanta to Los Angeles for the competition. The rules don’t allow contestants to miss a week of competition. Kim learned she had to withdraw live on Monday’s show during a Skype interview.
