Giada De Laurentiis has opened up about her emotional Dancing With the Stars exit, revealing that her brief time in the ballroom taught her lessons she expects to carry with her long after the competition. The celebrity chef and professional partner Alan Bersten were eliminated during Week 2 after their salsa received 12 out of 30 points from the judges.
Although De Laurentiis admitted she was sad to leave so early, she said she ultimately walked away with “really good lessons” about herself. One of the biggest realizations involved learning to stay focused on the moment rather than constantly worrying about what would happen next.
That was something Bersten had repeatedly encouraged her to do during rehearsals. De Laurentiis explained that she would often ask what came next in the choreography, while Bersten would tell her to concentrate on the step she was doing instead of jumping ahead.
Looking back, De Laurentiis said the experience finally helped that message sink in. She described it as something the show had to “shake into” her, acknowledging that she had reached a point in her life where she needed to learn how to be more present and enjoy the experience instead of always thinking about the next goal.
The lesson also became connected to her daughter, Jade. De Laurentiis said she hopes her daughter learns that success is not always about winning and that there is value in putting yourself into unfamiliar situations, even when the outcome is not what you hoped for.
Jade had already played an important role in encouraging her mother to join the show. De Laurentiis previously explained that her daughter inspired her to take on the challenge after moving away for college, and Jade later shared an emotional reaction to watching her mother perform during the premiere.
After the elimination, De Laurentiis also spoke warmly about Bersten and described him as a loving and patient partner. She credited him with helping her remain determined throughout the demanding rehearsal process, while Bersten praised her willingness to keep working even when the choreography was difficult.
Bersten said one of the most rewarding parts of the experience was watching De Laurentiis celebrate whenever she finally mastered a new step. He described the joy and excitement on her face when she accomplished something as one of the special memories he would take away from their partnership.
But perhaps the most meaningful moment for De Laurentiis came from watching Jade watch her. The chef later said seeing her daughter’s pride and receiving her regular messages of encouragement from college meant more to her than the competition itself. She described that support as her “mirror ball” and said it was something she would never forget.
Despite leaving after only two weeks, De Laurentiis said she was grateful for the entire experience and proud that she pushed herself outside her comfort zone. She also said she felt honored to represent women in their 50s who are willing to try something new, making her short DWTS journey less about how long she stayed and more about what she discovered along the way.
Compiled with information from various sources.
