*”Dancing With the Stars” producers had to expel “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kim Zolciak from Season 21 after a mini-stroke prevented her from competing during Monday’s show.
But she and her professional dancer partner, Tony Dovolani, are refusing to give up hope that she can’t return within the next episodes. The pair are urging fans to sign a petition demanding they be reinstated.
“Sign this petition to bring @tonydovolani and me back,” she posted on Instagram, along with a photo of herself and Dovolani and a link to the petition.
“I was cleared to dance on Friday when I was discharged from the hospital, so Saturday morning I was up rehearsing not even 12 hrs after,” she explained. “I had no restrictions BUT flying until today. Yes the timing sucked but ultimately my health is first.”
She added that she really wanted to take part in Monday’s live show, but was unable to fly to Los Angeles in time for competition because the pressurized cabin could be dangerous to her fragile state.
“I wanted to dance here in ATL via satellite last night (Monday) I can dance I just couldn’t fly. I’m forever grateful for my dance partner @tonydovolani who has always supported me and All Of you my amazing fans!!!!!!!! Regardless I’ll be dancing my a** off at the finale,” she wrote, along with a link to the petition.
Over 13,000 fans signed the petition within an hour of its posting. The petition quickly surged to over 18,000 signatures.
As previously reported, Zolciak was hospitalized Friday following a transient ischemic attack (TIA), but was discharged soon after. However, “Dancing With the Stars” execs and lawyers deemed Zolciak “medically unfit,” forcing her to drop out of the competition.
Following the Skype conversation where “DWTS” host Tom Bergeron announced that Zolciak would not be allowed to perform for the rest of the season, her partner Dovolani immediately protested the decision and urged producers to change their mind.
The dismissal “hit me like a ton of bricks,” the longtime “DWTS” competitor said, via Fox News.
“I put a tweet out, in the midst of everything, saying bring Kim back, just hoping we can persuade those lawyers and all that,” he said following the heartbreaking announcement. “If enough fans want us back, maybe they’ll listen.”
Dovolani also revealed that he accompanied Zolciak at the hospital for several days, trying to lift up her spirits.
“[I was with her at the hospital] all three days, by her side, nine hours each day because that’s what a good partner does…I was dancing around her room trying to cheer her up,” he said.
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