Lindsay Arnold made the decision to leave “Dancing with the Stars” almost three years ago and has no regrets about it.
In a recent interview, the professional dancer, who had been a part of the show for 10 seasons, shared her reasons for stepping away from the spotlight at the peak of her fame and success.
“A lot of my priorities and where I wanted to spend my time … it just shifted,” she told People magazine. “My mindset shifted. Time flies by when you have children, and I realized the value of this precious time that we can’t get back.”
‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’ PRO LINDSAY ARNOLD ANNOUNCES SHE’S LEAVING THE SHOW: ‘WE EXHAUSTED EVERY OPTION’
Lindsay Arnold mentioned her change in mindset before leaving “DWTS”. (Maarten de Boer/ABC via Getty Images)
“I wanted to feel a sense of accomplishment within the show knowing that, ‘OK, if we do have kids and I don’t come back, do I feel like I fulfilled what I hope to do?’ I did feel like I had reached that point. We were probably already prepared beyond what was necessary. We were eager to start a family, and I’m glad we waited for that timing because it felt perfect for us.”
Arnold, who is a mother of two daughters, Sage (4) and June (almost 2), with her husband Samuel Cusick, expressed her disinterest in the bustling lifestyle of Los Angeles.
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“To be honest, I never really loved or embraced Hollywood as a place to live,” she stated. “I appreciate everything it provided for my career and what I was able to accomplish, but I was always the professional who, between seasons, would sneak back to Utah to be with my family. This has always been where I envisioned raising my family.”
Lindsay Arnold, seen at the “Dancing with the Stars” 30th season premiere, was on the show for 10 years. (Eric McCandless/ABC)
“Growing up in Utah, city life was never for me,” she added. “But, as I mentioned, I acknowledge that my life wouldn’t be where it is without that time spent in LA, so I am truly grateful.”
Nowadays, Arnold is making a name for herself on social media with her workout tutorials and lifestyle vlogs.
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“When I made the decision to leave ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ I didn’t have a solid plan for my career. I just wanted to do things that felt true to myself, but it was a bit daunting because I wasn’t sure how people would react,” she shared regarding her transition to an influencer.
“At the time, I had a social media following mostly from those who watched me on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ It was nerve-wracking because I wondered if they would turn against me if I said, ‘Sorry, I’m not doing that anymore. I’m going to be a mom.’ Perhaps people don’t like moms. But it has been amazing to see that by staying true to myself and sharing my journey, my career and my community have naturally evolved in the most perfect way.”
Lindsay Arnold and Jordan Fisher were season 25’s Mirrorball Trophy winners. (JB Lacroix/WireImage)
Although Arnold misses the show, she stands by her decision to move on.
“There are many aspects of the show that I miss,” she admitted. “I miss all my friends, the sense of community and family, it’s real. When my sister joined the show, they treated her like family. What I don’t miss is the all-consuming nature of the commitment. To excel in that job requires round-the-clock dedication, and being a mom is a full-time job as well, so that balance is truly challenging.”
“Leaving the show has felt like a natural progression for me, and I’m grateful for that because there were moments in that first season of leaving where I wondered, ‘Will I regret this?’” she said. “I’m happy to say that I haven’t. I stand by my decisions every step of the way.”
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