Selma Blair drops out of DWTS amid health concerns—’I pushed myself as far as I could’

In an emotional moment that left not one dry eye in the whole theater, Selma Blair gracefully bowed out of “Dancing With The Stars” this week amid health concerns related to her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

The actress revealed to her dance partner, Sasha Farber, that she received results from an MRI that showed she was unable to safely continue on with the competition after several weeks of dancing on the show.

“So, I’ve been monitored… I had MRIs and the results came back, and it all adds up to, I can’t go on with the competition,” Blair revealed to her dance partner, Sasha Farber. “I’ve pushed as far as I could. With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations, and my body has taken a hit. It’s way too much for the safety of my bones. I could do extensive damage that I, of course, do not want.”

Related: Selma Blair says she’s officially in remission from MS

Blair was still committed to performing one last dance with Farber, a Waltz set to “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” And, as you can see, the beautiful dance was emotional for everyone in the room to watch.

“I really want to have one last beautiful dance with you, and bow out,” she explains to Farber. “So, this is a dance for everyone that has tried and hoped they could do more, but also, the power in realizing it’s time to walk away. I am so, so grateful to be able to do one last gentle dance.”

The dance was designed to represent her “most emotional year,” which she says was 2018 when she finally received the MS diagnosis.

MS causes nerve damage that disrupts communication between the brain and the bones—something Blair says she didn’t want to risk adding to.

“With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations and my body is definitely taking a hit,” she says. “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.”

Related: Jamie Lynn Sigler opens up about being a mom with a chronic illness

Last year, she participated in a documentary called Introducing Selma Blair, where she openly discussed her life as a single mom to her 11-year-old son, Arthur, while battling a chronic illness. She also said a stem cell treatment put her in remission from the disease in 2021.

“This condition — or any condition of chronic illness or disability — is my story, and if that helps normalize, to open the door for other people to be comfortable telling their stories, that can also be enlightening and informative and helps to build new ways of love and support,” she said in the documentary.

After last night’s waltz, the DWTS judges praised Blair for participating in the competition and thanked her for sharing her story on the show.

“This competition is tough for everyone, but if the others have climbed hills, you have climbed mountains,” Len Goodman said, with Derek Hough telling her, “You’ve brought nothing but joy to everyone, always with a smile… thank you for sharing this journey with us all.”

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said watching Blair dance has been like watching a “living breathing, elegantly dancing miracle.”

“You are a blessing and a gift,” Inaba said.