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Selma Blair has left Dancing With The Stars over health concerns, after receiving a perfect 40 for her last dance.
The actress, who was partnered with Sasha Farber, revealed in 2018 that she’d been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She made the difficult decision to leave the US dancing competition, breaking the news to Sasha by saying: ‘You know I’ve been monitored and in touch with my doctors this whole process.
‘I had these MRIs and when the results came back, it just all adds up to I can’t. I can’t. I can’t go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could.’
Selma, who previously revealed she’d suffered fainting spells in rehearsals, added: ‘With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations and my body is definitely taking a hit. It’s way too much for the safety of my bones.
‘There’s just intensive bone trauma and inflammation among rips and tears so I could do extensive damage that of course, I do not want.’
Pro dancer Sasha went on to tell her: ‘My main worry is your health. You’re my champion.’
Selma, 50, was left in tears as she performed her final dance, a Waltz to What The World Needs Now Is Love, with the judges – Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Derek Hough – giving her a perfect 40.
Len said: ‘This competition is tough for everyone. But if the others had climbed hills, you have climbed mountains.’
Bruno added: ‘I feel privileged to have known you. You have inspired millions of people. Your star has never shone brighter.’
Carrie Ann went on to say: ‘Watching you get out here each week is like watching a living, breathing, elegantly dancing miracle. You have brought so much awareness for people who struggle with chronic illness, who deal with chronic pain. You have been nothing but an inspiration.’
Selma was partnered with Sasha Farber (Picture: phamous2/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
The rest of the celebrities, including TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and singer Jordin Sparks, were also left emotional.
Ahead of leaving, Selma hugged her son Arthur and said: ‘I’m going to be okay. I am a mum and I don’t want to be laid up again because I’m afraid I won’t get back.’
Host Tyra Banks announced that, due to Selma’s exit, no other celebrities would be leaving that week.
Selma previously performed blindfolded to help with sensory overload (Picture: Disney+ / BACKGRID)
Selma’s close friend, Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar, shared a sweet tribute, writing on Instagram: ‘Long before @dancingwiththestars I knew you were a ten, and now the world knows. Selma I’ve never been so proud of you (and I’m often proud of you) You make the rest of us believe that we can do anything. That we can never give up.
‘And a special thank you to @sashafarber1 for making this experience what it has been for James- pure joy. I will miss getting to watch the happiness radiate from Selma each week as she stepped on stage with you. Thank you for that gift. And speaking of gifts- @selmablair your love and friendship is the greatest gift. I love you Blair.’
Selma had previously performed blindfolded to help with sensory overload on the show.
‘It was helping me to block out some of the noise,’ she revealed.
‘I do get real sensory overload and shut my eyes a lot so this was a gift, but also can be quite disorientating but really thrilling. I loved it, and I love Sasha.’
Selma was diagnosed with MS, which is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance, in 2018.
In October 2021, Selma shared an in-depth look at her life with MS, when she released the documentary Introducing, Selma Blair.
The film tracked her experience of undergoing life-altering stem cell treatment in order to kick-start her immune system, to the slow and painful flare-ups of the disease and invasive chemotherapy.
Dancing With The Stars is available to stream on Disney+ in the US.
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MORE : Selma Blair performs blindfolded to help with sensory overload on Dancing With The Stars
MORE : Selma Blair reveals fainting spells amid Dancing With The Stars rehearsals: ‘I pass out a lot’
‘My body is definitely taking a hit’.