Former Contestants Claim Dancing With the Stars Pros Witney Carson and Mark Ballas Feuded in Season 21

Professional dancers Witney Carson and Mark Ballas reportedly experienced a tense backstage fallout during Season 21 of “Dancing With the Stars,” according to married former contestants Alexa and Carlos PenaVega.

The couple made history on the 2015 hit competition series as the first and thus far only married pair to compete directly against one another. However, behind-the-scenes friction between their assigned professional partners complicated their shared journey on the show.

Speaking on an episode of their “LexLos” podcast, Alexa revealed that Carson and Ballas were at odds during the season and allegedly refused to be in the same room together. The actress explained that the friction disrupted their original plan to experience the competition side-by-side as much as possible.

The 38-year-old actress noted that she and her husband anticipated rehearsing together, but the pro dancers’ dispute forced them into separate spaces. They had to navigate their respective training while working around the interpersonal conflict between Carson and Ballas.

Carlos described his partner, Carson, as patient and supportive, noting that they shared a strong work ethic and had a lot of fun despite the demanding schedule. He also acknowledged the intense competitive drive of Ballas, describing him as highly creative and willing to push boundaries with demanding choreography.

Alexa echoed similar sentiments about her experience with Ballas, though she admitted to facing a steeper learning curve during rehearsals compared to her husband. She recalled that Carlos picked up choreography immediately and could cover up any mistakes seamlessly, whereas she struggled to retain routines an hour after learning them.

During the 2015 season, Alexa and Ballas were eliminated and finished in 6th place, while Carlos and Carson advanced to the finale, ultimately placing 4th behind winners Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough.

Both Carson and Ballas have continued their tenure on the dance competition series in subsequent years. Carson won Season 34 alongside partner Robert Irwin and competed more recently with partner Guillermo Rodriguez before being eliminated during “Super Bowl Night,” while Ballas has continued competing alongside partner Maura Higgins for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.