Mauricio Umansky Is ‘Shocked’ by ‘DWTS’ Elimination, Says It’s Not His ‘Last’ Dance With Emma Slater
Mauricio Umansky had not anticipated his journey on Dancing With the Stars coming to an end just yet.
“I was definitely shocked. I was definitely surprised,” Umansky, 53, revealed exclusively to Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 31, following his performance of an Argentine tango to Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” alongside his partner Emma Slater.
The duo received a score of 31 out of 40 from the judges, with an additional 2 bonus points from the group dance later in the show, bringing their total to 33. However, Umansky and Slater, 34, found themselves at the bottom alongside Harry Jowsey and Lindsay Arnold and were ultimately eliminated.
“I’m not sure why or how. But I was definitely shocked. I mean, it is what it is,” added the star of Buying Beverly Hills.
During their joint interview, Slater expressed her delight at how far she and Umansky had come in the competition.
Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater ABC/Andrew Eccles
“Mauricio is a great, great inspirational person. [He’s] such a good supportive friend for me. So it’s been a blessing getting to know him,” she shared. “And now we can be friends forever. So I really very much cherish the fact that you are my dance partner.”
Umansky hinted at future collaborations with Slater, saying, “And this is not our last night on a dance floor.”
The duo formed a close bond during their time working together on season 24. Earlier in the month, Umansky and Slater sparked romance rumors when they were seen holding hands during a dinner outing in Beverly Hills. They later clarified that it wasn’t a date and insisted that their connection was based on their partnership in dance.
For full clarity we are not dating,” Umansky stated in an Instagram Story video on October 26. “We’ve been dancing together now for six weeks, four hours a day every single day.”
Slater added, “We [share] similar personalities. We’ve got a super supportive relationship. Last week was extremely emotional, so super supportive relationship. We’re definitely there for each other, and it’s beautiful. That’s a great thing.”
Umansky’s estranged wife, Kyle Richards, expressed her feelings regarding the photos that fueled speculation about his relationship with Slater.
“That was very hard to see. That hurt my feelings,” she told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live on October 25. “I just don’t think you hold hands like that with somebody. … I don’t know if anything’s happened yet, but obviously, there’s something there. Listen, I love him very much, and we are amicable. That really did hurt me.”
Umansky mentioned that his family has been supportive throughout his DWTS journey.
“It’s been awesome. They’ve been great. My kids have been here. Everybody’s been here,” Umansky, who shares three daughters with Richards and is a stepfather to her eldest daughter, Farrah, told Us. “My mom, everybody. That’s been great to feel all the support. I love it.”
