Brandon Mychal Smith withdrawing from 'Skating with the Stars'

Brandon Mychal Smith's Skating with the Stars run is over.


The Disney Channel star has announced he is withdrawing from the ABC ice dancing competition due to an apparently severe still-ongoing bout with a stomach virus.

"We are sad to report that [Brandon] will not be skating tonight and will be departing from the show due to illness," his representative told E! News Monday afternoon.

"While he was able to return to practice last week after being taken to the hospital for a stomach virus, the show's sponsored doctor has advised him that he should not skate tonight as he is still sick. While Brandon is less than thrilled by the news, he does not want to put his partner, himself, or the show at any risk."

Last Monday's Skating with the Stars broadcast featured the show's judges scoring a video of Smith's final practice rehearsal with professional partner Keauna McLaughlin after he rushed to the hospital earlier in the day and unable to perform live.


Smith and McLaughlin received 18 points for their technical score and an additional 21 points for their ice dance's artistic impression -- giving them a combined score of 39 points that left them in third place on the judges' leaderboard.

Smith's departure leaves three couples in the competition: The Real Housewives of New York City and Bethenny's Getting Married? star Bethenny Frankel and partner Ethan Burgess, Olympic gold-medal skier Jonny Moseley and partner Brooke Castile, and actress Rebecca Budig and partner Fred Palascak.






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