Nelson Monfort, well-known for his work as a sports commentator, was the first contestant eliminated from the 2025 season of 'Danse avec les stars' during the live show on February 21. The competition proved relentless, and Monfort's performance garnered attention for all the wrong reasons, leading to his exit from the popular French dance competition.
After dancing a tango with his partner Calisson Goasdoué, Monfort found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard, having scored only 15 points. Despite this disappointing result, Monfort embraced the competitive spirit of the show and expressed his enjoyment of the experience. "It was truly a wonderful and unforgettable experience," he stated following his elimination.
This season of 'Danse avec les stars', which premiered on February 7, began with much anticipation following its controversial previous season, marked by clashes between other contestants. Yet, it quickly became clear during prime time performances just how fierce the competition would be. The duo of Lénie and Jungeli consistently impressed the judges, with Lénie achieving a remarkable score of 38 points.
Monfort's results were starkly different. With high stakes on the line, many other contestants pushed hard to raise their scores and avoid being sent home. The tension rose as the evening progressed and contestants, including Monfort and Davant, faced elimination after lacking sufficient votes to remain viable.
Returning to the dance floor for the elimination round, Monfort and Goasdoué performed the paso doble to the song 'Freed From Desire' by Gala. While Monfort and Davant were hopeful, it was evident during the performance evaluations just how unlikely their chances were. With judges noting the intensity this season, Chris Marques delivered the harshest critique ever recorded on the show, giving Monfort only 2 out of 10.
Marques candidly remarked, "I've rarely seen seasons with such high levels of competition. There were far too many mistakes tonight for us to ignore." His evaluation reflected the stringent standards of the competition and left little room for leniency.
Despite his critiques, Nelson Monfort's demeanor remained upbeat. "I understand the competition is tough and one must accept the result. It wasn't my best performance, but we gave it everything on the floor," he remarked, showcasing his sportsmanship even after being voted off.
The elimination of Monfort has left some wondering how other competitors, like Davant, will fare moving forward. With various stars struggling to climb out from the depths of the scoreboard, every performance is becoming pivotal as audiences rally for their favorites.
After the results aired, viewers took to social media to react. Some sympathized with Monfort, acknowledging his lifelong connection to sports, and applauded his bravery for joining the competitive dance world at 70. Others debated whether the judges, particularly Marques, had been too harsh on him, considering the pressures of live television.
This season is shaping up to be one for the books, and with Monfort's exit, the competition only stands to get fiercer. Each week will now spotlight different contestants and their performances, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.
Looking forward, Monfort plans to continue watching the show where he hopes to cheer other contestants on from the sidelines. "I’ll definitely be tuning in every week!" he confirmed. His elimination serves as both a reminder of the unexpected twists of competition and the grace of accepting defeat with dignity.
While Nelson Montfort may no longer be dancing on the stage, his spirit and enthusiasm for the experience remain, proving there’s more to 'Danse avec les stars' than just performances and scores.