Lauren Jauregui reflects on her viral reaction to dancing with the stars elimination

Lauren Jauregui is looking back on her viral Dancing with the Stars elimination moment with honesty, humor, and perspective. The singer and former Fifth Harmony member recently reflected on her candid reaction after being sent home from the competition, admitting that while the moment stung at the time, she now sees it differently.

“Time healed the wounds,” Jauregui said when asked about how she feels about the moment now. Laughing, she added, “In the moment, don’t ever put a microphone in my face on live camera after you eliminate me off something, baby. I’m always going to be mad.”

Jauregui was eliminated during TikTok-themed night alongside her professional partner, Brandon Armstrong. When asked how she felt immediately after the announcement, she responded with a single word, “Pissed”, a moment that quickly went viral across social media and sparked widespread conversation.

Looking back, Jauregui acknowledged that she could have handled the moment differently, but she stood by the authenticity of her response. “I could have been a bit more eloquent,” she said, before adding, “But you know, whatever. She was pissed. She was pissed. It’s true.”

She explained that her blunt reaction came from a place of vulnerability and pressure, noting how overwhelming live television can be. “There’s a lot of pressure that happens when you’re in front of millions of people and feeling something really vulnerable and then have a mic shoved into your face and asked how you feel,” Jauregui said. “And if I’m thinking it, I’m going to say it.”

Despite the emotional moment, Jauregui has moved forward creatively and personally. She also spoke about her music, including her post-DWTS single “Ego,” which she described as “a soft rock song about being introspective and just laying down your ego to find yourself an honest connection. I think we all need to do that.”