James Van Der Beek‘sDancing with the Starsjourney has come to an end — but finalistAlly Brookewanted nothing more than to give up her spot for him.
On Monday’s heart-wrenching episode of the ABC dance competition series, theDawson’s Creekalum, 42,was sent homeone week shy of the finale.
The verdict was an especially difficult one as Van Der Beek announced earlier in the episode that his wife Kimberly hadsuffered a miscarriageover the weekend.
Speaking to reporters after the emotional show, the Fifth Harmony singer revealed what the actor told her after she tried to sacrifice herself.
“He was just like, ‘I can’t accept that,’ and ‘It’s very, very kind,’ and he said, ‘Just enjoy it,'” she said. “I talked to him afterward as well and I tried to offer again … and he was just like, ‘No, please, you just enjoy it and you shine and don’t be afraid to shine,’ are the exact words he told me.
“I’m taking that in,” she continued. “Even though I’m very sad and in a way feel like I shouldn’t be here, I’m trying to celebrate my personal journey, too.”
“You never know why these things happen, that’s what I’ve been telling my kids,” he continued. “All you know is that it brings you closer together, it breaks you open, it opens your heart, it deepens your appreciation. It makes you more human.”
Although Van Der Beek admitted that he didn’t think he’d be dancing on Monday evening, he chose to compete for Kimberly, who pushed him to continue in the competition.
Eric McCandless/ABC via Ge
Speaking to reporters, Brooke reflected on the difficult elimination.
“I didn’t even want them to vote,” she continued. “I just wanted to give it to him. That’s what I was feeling in that moment ’cause I felt like it wasn’t right to move on and be here. … I just felt it wasn’t right after everything that James has gone through. Being human and seeing that he’s been through one of the worst things in life and … he had the strength to be here today and that in itself is unbelievable.”
“That took immense strength from him and I felt like in that moment it just wasn’t right,” she added. “He was there and I was there and I just felt like he deserved to be there after everything he went through.”
Still, Brooke said Van Der Beek continued to encourage her after they stepped off the stage.
“I didn’t feel like talking or celebrating, I just felt sad for James, especially with what he’s been through,” she said. “But everyone was encouraging me, even James himself. Like, the fact that he was encouraging me after everything he’s been through? That just shows the type of character he is and the spirit he has.”
“He’s just one of the most magnificent, unbelievable people I’ve ever met in my life,” she added.
Next week, the four remaining celebrities — Brooke, Lauren Alaina, Kel Mitchell andHannah Brown— will compete with their pro partners during the live finale.
TheDancing with the Starsseason 28 finale airs Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
