Emma Slater Opens Up About Partner James Van Der Beek’s Heartbreaking Week
On the November 18 episode of Dancing with the Stars, fans watched in shock as James Van Der Beek and his professional dance partner, Emma Slater, were eliminated from the competition. The news came just days after James revealed that his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, had suffered a tragic loss: the couple’s sixth child. In a candid interview with Closer Weekly and other reporters, Emma shared her thoughts on James’ strength and determination during one of the toughest weeks of his life.
At just 30 years old, Emma Slater has become one of the most respected choreographers in the world of competitive dancing. Speaking about her 42-year-old partner, she revealed how much James relied on his wife’s unwavering support. “Honestly, his strength is Kimberly, his wife,” Emma explained. “When James first heard the devastating news from the doctors, he thought about stepping away from the show entirely. But Kimberly, who’s 37, wouldn’t let him give up. She’s an incredibly inspirational person—full of life and spirit—and she insisted he keep dancing.”
View this post on InstagramBelieve it or not… none of these pics ended in disaster… 🤔👍🤗 #dwts #teamvanderslate Live show & voting tonight 8/7c ABC
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Kimberly's Strength Pushed James Forward
Emma elaborated on Kimberly’s role in keeping James motivated, even in the face of unimaginable heartbreak. “She’s the most inspirational, high-spirited person I know—she wasn’t having it, him staying at home. She was making sure he came here, pushing him out the door,” Emma said. “He’s been torn, but Kimberly told him, ‘I need you to go there and dance and show everyone how great you are.’ And that’s exactly what he did tonight.”
James, already a proud father to five children—Olivia, 9; Joshua, 7; Annabel Leah, 5; Emilia, 3; and Gwendolyn, 1—shared the heartbreaking news of Kimberly’s miscarriage during the live show. Despite his emotional turmoil, James continued to perform with incredible grace and resilience. Unfortunately, the judges ultimately decided to send him and Emma home, ending their journey on Dancing with the Stars.
Emma's Heartfelt Reaction to the Elimination
While Emma was heartbroken over their elimination, she expressed deep sadness about the timing of it all. “I wish the outcome could have been different, and we could have gone to the finale,” she admitted. “It would have meant so much for Kimberly to see us dance again. She wasn’t able to be there tonight, and the truth is, the show was something that kept James going. It was his outlet, his way of staying strong.”
Emma went on to explain how crucial the show had been for James during such a difficult time. “He told me, ‘I need the show. I’m grateful to have an outlet and a form of physical expression to keep me grounded. I need to feel normal, and I don’t want to fall into a pit of despair.’ It was so powerful to hear him say that.”
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View this post on InstagramWrecked. Devastated. In shock. That’s how we’re feeling right now after the soul we thought were going to welcome into our family in April… has taken a short cut to whatever lies beyond this life. We’ve been through this before, but never this late in the pregnancy, and never accompanied by such a scary, horrific threat to @vanderkimberly and her well-being. Grateful that she’s now recovering, but we’ve only just begun unpacking the layers of this one. Thank you to all of our friends and co-workers (and dance partners) who have shown up for us so beautifully during this time. As many of you have said, “There are no words…” and it’s true. Which is why in a time like this it’s enough to know that you’re there. Grieving AND counting our blessings today.
Emma's Commitment to Supporting James
After their elimination, Emma opened up about the importance of getting James to the finale. “I feel disappointed that he couldn’t get to shine his light in the finale,” she said. “I wish we could have been there—not for myself, but for James. This is always about the partner. Of course, I want to be there, but this is about James. On top of everything he’s been through this week, I feel like I wanted to protect him, and somehow, he wasn’t protected.”
Though the competition may be over, Emma’s admiration for James remains unwavering. “Kimberly and their kids must be so proud of him,” she added. “He’s shown such courage and resilience throughout this entire experience, and I’m honored to have been a part of it.”
