A top candidate in the judges’ ranking, but eliminated by the public? This has not happened to “Dancing with the Stars” since the eviction of Clara Morgane in the sixth week of season 10, in 2019. Even more cruel, this is what just happened to Keiona, this Friday the 19th. April on TF1, in the semi-final of the competition. Ironically, these two participants danced with the same partner: Maxime Dereymez. The professional will not be able to claim a second title, he who won season 2 on the arm of Shy’m.
On stage, the reigning winner of “Drag Race France” did not lose her smile. “I think I have shown once again that I am truly the Queen of France and I am very proud of it,” said Keiona to host Camille Combal, just after the announcement of her elimination.
And to add a little later during “Dancing with the Stars, the sequel”: “I had a lot of fun. I had a great teacher, a great friend, a great partner who didn’t give up on me throughout the competition. We enjoyed ourselves, we danced well, we had fun, we created beautiful paintings. And I’m very proud to have done that with Maxime, because it was really incredible. »
“It’s crazy. It’s scandalous. How it is possible ?? »
On social networks, the drag queen’s fans were much more bitter. “Keiona and Maxime eliminated at the gates of the final while they were number 1 with two 10s, I’m dreaming,” wrote a fan on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s crazy. It’s scandalous. How it is possible ?? », adds another. Some also cite in their messages the level of Natasha St-Pier or Nico Capone, whom they consider less good than their favorite.
“I wake up and see that it was Queen Keiona who was eliminated???? Audience of m****, I go back to bed. » This message is particularly telling: the public who votes in front of the TF1 program is not representative of Internet users who express themselves on the networks and, very often, those who are dissatisfied have not themselves voted.
Many people also assure that they will not watch next Friday’s final following Keiona’s departure. We will have to wait a week to find out if this will really have an impact on the audiences.
“Thank you everyone, it’s a dream”
During the night, finalists Natasha St-Pier, Inès Reg and Nico Capone posted messages of gratitude on Instagram. “I’m still a little in shock (…) Thank you, thank you, thank you, it’s thanks to you (…). I’m amazed, I’m going to do my best,” assured the first on video in her car on the way back from the set. “Thank you immensely,” wrote comedian Inès Reg, reposting a video with the words “Road to finale” where we see her jumping for joy.
Nico Capone, finally, took the time to film himself once he returned home: “I wanted to thank my entire community, all the people who supported me, the journey was difficult (…). We’re going to give everything for this final, thank you to everyone, it’s a dream. »
Unhappy semi-finalist, eliminated following the votes of the jurors, Roman Doduik also went there with his message, writing: “I am unable to sleep. Too many emotions rushing around. The disappointment, the sadness, the pride, the joy… These three months of my life lasted five years. I don’t have enough words to tell you how grateful I am that this happened to me. »
Keiona, for her part, was content to relay a selfie of the hairdresser and wig maker Christophe Mecca, taken the same evening with her and Maxime Dereymez, where he said to them: “Thank you for this adventure, you were the star of this show”.
What rules for the final?
There are three candidates left for a trophy. We do not yet know precisely the rules for the final on April 26. Since the start of the show, in 2011, it has always been the public vote which has decided between the final two candidates. On the other hand, in the event of a three-way final, different scenarios took place.
During the two previous editions, in 2021 and 2022, a first participant was eliminated based on the judges’ scores, like this Friday. But, if we go back a little further in time, the viewers’ vote has already counted for third place as in 2017 or 2016…
According to our information, Natasha St-Pier seems to be clearly in favor of TF1 viewers who vote. But, depending on the rules and the different scenarios, it is not excluded that Inès Reg and Nico Capone compose the final duel. As the semi-final once again proved, the public’s channels are impenetrable.