Lindsay Arnold was a “Dancing with the Stars” fan favorite, having competed on the show for ten seasons before leaving after Season 28. She stepped away from the ABC dance competition because she was pregnant with her first child, Sage. After focusing on motherhood, Arnold made a return to DWTS for Season 30, but it was her inclusion in this season that gave her clarity about what she wanted for the future.
So, why did she leave the show? And will she ever be back?
Why Did Lindsay Arnold Leave ‘Dancing with the Stars?’
Arnold recently opened up about why she left DWTS after Season 30. As we head into Season 34, some fans are still wondering whether she will ever make a comeback as a professional dancer. In a recent interview on Tay and Taylor Lautner‘s “The Squeeze” podcast, which was filmed and shared on Instagram on Monday, July 28, Arnold revealed how motherhood has changed her priorities.
“Before getting pregnant, I was always like, ‘Will I come back after having a baby?’ And I did. I went back,” Arnold said. “I did a season with Sage, and it was just a very, very, very different experience for me.”
She continued, “The show, as a pro, it’s a 24/7 job,” and because she became a mom in September 2020 to her daughter, whom she shares with husband, Samuel Lightner Cusick, Arnold felt she no longer had the time to give both parts of her life the attention that they needed and deserved.
“Everything just felt different, like it was hard. It was really, really hard,” she said of competing on Season 30. “At the end of that season, I honestly felt like I knew in my heart, I’m like, ‘I think this is it for me. I think I kind of like pushed it aside for a while, but then ultimately, I just knew.”
Fans React to Lindsay Arnold’s Candid Interview
Leaving DWTS was not an easy decision for Arnold, but it was the best one for her and her family. In May 2023, she and Cusick welcomed their second child, another daughter whom they named June. Now, she spends her time with her kids, but she is also the founder of The Movement Club, and dance remains an integral part of her life.
Fans have reacted in the comment section of the Instagram post with messages of praise and support for Arnold. Among the “love you” comments and red heart emojis, fans have also commented on how they still want to see Arnold on the show, but in a different capacity.
“I would love to see you judge/ host in the future,” a comment reads.
“Heartbreaking bc I loved your energy and watching you dance, but also as a mom, totally get it and love that you’re prioritizing your babies and at peace,” a fan reacted. “She’s so successful in other ways. She did her thang and now she’s enjoying the fruits of her hard work,” another shared.
