Brooks Nader had a strong reaction after her younger sister Sarah Jane Nader’s “Dancing With the Stars” journey ended almost as soon as it began. Sarah Jane and professional partner Hailey Bills were eliminated during Night Two of the Season 35 premiere on September 16 after performing just one competitive dance.
Sarah Jane and Bills performed a jive to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.” Carrie Ann Inaba praised the chemistry between them but noted that they were frequently out of sync, while Derek Hough wanted more jive content and Bruno Tonioli stressed the importance of getting the technique right.
The judges awarded the pair 14 points out of 30. Although that left them near the bottom of the leaderboard, they were not the lowest-scoring couple of the evening; Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik received 12 points.
Because “DWTS” combines judges’ scores with viewer votes, the leaderboard alone did not determine who survived. When the final results were announced, Sarah Jane and Bills were eliminated, making them the second couple to leave Season 35 following Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman on Night One.
Brooks was in the ballroom supporting her sister and reportedly appeared stunned by the result. According to an eyewitness account published by The U.S. Sun, cameras caught Brooks reacting as Sarah Jane’s elimination was announced, while the credits were already beginning to roll.
The outlet reported that Brooks appeared to mouth a profane four-word reaction expressing disbelief about the result. Because that wording comes from an eyewitness interpretation rather than a clear public statement from Brooks herself, it is more accurate to describe it as a reported reaction rather than a confirmed quote.
Brooks did, however, make her opinion unmistakably clear afterward. When E! News posted about Sarah Jane’s elimination on Instagram, Brooks left a single-word comment: “Robbed.” That public comment provides much firmer evidence of how she felt about her sister’s early departure.
Sarah Jane took the disappointment differently. After leaving the competition, she said she and Bills were sad because they had been excited about dancing again, but emphasized how grateful she was for the opportunity and for the friendship they developed.
Their partnership also carried special significance. Sarah Jane and Bills became the second all-female partnership in “DWTS” history, and Sarah Jane said she hoped people watching at home felt represented or seen by their appearance together.
The experience also changed Sarah Jane’s perspective on Brooks’ own “DWTS” run. Brooks competed during Season 33 with Gleb Savchenko and lasted considerably longer. Sarah Jane admitted that after experiencing the pressure herself, she had gained respect for how far her sister managed to make it.
Despite Brooks’ initial frustration, the sisters quickly found a way to joke about the situation. Their matching “Vote For Sarah Jane” shirts were altered by crossing out “Vote For,” and the family even changed a celebratory dinner menu from Sarah Jane and Hailey’s “First Dance” to their “Last.”
Sarah Jane’s Season 35 run may have lasted only one performance, but her elimination produced one of premiere week’s biggest reactions. Brooks’ reported four-word response attracted attention, yet her confirmed one-word verdict ultimately said everything more clearly: “Robbed.” Sarah Jane, meanwhile, left emphasizing gratitude, representation and the friendship she formed with Bills during their unexpectedly brief time in the ballroom.
