A tense moment on Dancing With the Stars has sparked a wave of backlash after former Bachelorette star Tyler Cameron abruptly walked away from co-host Julianne Hough while cameras were still rolling, leaving viewers stunned by his reaction to the judges’ disappointing scores.
The 33-year-old reality star appeared visibly frustrated during Tuesday’s October 27 episode after he and professional partner Sharna Burgess received just 26 out of 40 points for their Halloween-themed Viennese waltz. Moments later, Cameron turned and walked away from the interview area, prompting criticism from fans who accused him of throwing a televised temper tantrum.
But the controversy didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling. Cameron later addressed his behavior, admitting he wasn’t proud of the moment while revealing the emotional pressure that had pushed him to his breaking point.
The drama unfolded during the show’s Horror Movie Night, when Cameron and Burgess performed a Dracula-inspired routine set to Annie Lennox’s “Love Song for a Vampire.”
Dressed as the infamous vampire, complete with a top hat and round sunglasses, Cameron attempted to deliver a romantic and theatrical performance. Unfortunately, the judges were far less impressed than he had hoped.
Derek Hough praised Cameron’s ability to glide smoothly across the ballroom floor but criticized his hunched posture. Guest judge Shirley Ballas complimented his acting while pointing out several technical problems, including issues with his frame and positioning.
Carrie Ann Inaba was even less enthusiastic about the performance, disagreeing with Ballas and calling Cameron’s acting the weakest element of the routine. Bruno Tonioli also offered criticism, warning the reality star against leaning too heavily on Burgess during the dance.
When the scores arrived, Cameron’s disappointment was impossible to miss.
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Three judges awarded him 7s, while Ballas delivered a particularly painful 5, leaving the pair with 26 points and a combined two-week total of 58 out of 80.
Standing alongside Burgess in the skybox, Cameron appeared visibly upset before suddenly walking away while Hough was still conducting the live segment. Burgess could be seen attempting to comfort her partner as the uncomfortable moment unfolded.
Viewers quickly took to social media, with some blasting his reaction as disrespectful and unprofessional. Critics described the incident as a “temper tantrum,” while one viewer complained that Cameron had become “unbearable.”
Others defended the former Bachelorette contestant, arguing that his reaction was understandable given the intense pressure of competing on live television.
As the controversy gained attention, Cameron appeared in a TikTok video alongside Burgess to explain exactly what had happened.
“Y’all saw a real human moment out of me, not my proudest moment,” he admitted, acknowledging that his emotions had gotten the better of him.
Cameron insisted he had not intended to disrespect Hough, the judges or his professional partner. Instead, he claimed he mistakenly believed the live segment had finished and simply needed a moment to collect himself.
“When I was upstairs getting my scores, I thought we were done filming and I was like, I needed to step away from it all,” he explained.
The reality star said he had entered the evening knowing that his future in the competition depended on delivering a strong performance. After hearing the judges’ critiques, he immediately feared that he had ruined his chances of advancing.
More importantly, he worried that he had disappointed Burgess, who had spent countless hours preparing him for the demanding routine.
“In my head, I felt like I let myself down. More importantly, I felt like I let Sharna down,” Cameron confessed.
Burgess, however, quickly came to his defense, arguing that the judges had been unnecessarily harsh and that her partner deserved considerably higher marks.
After rewatching their performance, the professional dancer said she believed Cameron had executed much of the choreography beautifully and should have received 8s instead of 7s.
She was particularly disappointed by Ballas’ score of 5, although she acknowledged that the guest judge had been tough on other ballroom competitors throughout the evening.
Burgess also suggested that Cameron had faced unusually critical scoring in previous weeks, making the latest disappointment even harder to accept.
Unfortunately for the pair, their fears about elimination soon became reality.
Later that evening, Cameron and Burgess were sent home in a double elimination alongside Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson and professional dancer Emma Slater.
The outcome was especially emotional because it came just one week after Cameron had shared some joyful personal news on the same ballroom floor.
During the October 20 Dedication Night episode, Cameron and his fiancée, Tate Madden, announced that they were expecting their first child together. The couple also revealed that they were having a baby girl, turning their performance into a memorable celebration of their growing family.
Just seven days later, Cameron found himself saying goodbye to the competition following one of his most difficult nights.
Despite the disappointing ending and the criticism surrounding his walk-off, Cameron insisted he was grateful for the experience and proud of how far he had come.
He apologized for allowing his frustration to overshadow the moment and thanked Burgess for her patience, encouragement and friendship throughout the competition.
The professional dancer also praised Cameron, making it clear that their partnership had become much more meaningful than simply competing for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
Cameron eventually found some humor in the disappointing outcome, joking that he and Burgess had survived the competition like an “unkillable cockroach” before finally being eliminated.
Still, the unexpected walk-off has become one of the most talked-about moments of the season, dividing fans over whether Cameron’s reaction was an understandable emotional response or an embarrassing display of poor sportsmanship.