Fans delighted as Parent Trap co-star reunites with Lindsay Lohan in Freaky Friday 2elaine hendrix and lindsay lohan (Image: Disney )

A Dancing With the Stars contestant was unable to perform in the latest episode of the ABC competition after she was reportedly wheeled out of the ballroom on a stretcher.

Actress Elaine Hendrix, 54, has been partnered with professional dancer Alan Bersten for the 34th season of the popular show, which serves as the American equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing.

However, when hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro were announcing the couples scheduled to perform on Tuesday evening, they disclosed that Elaine would be absent from the lineup due to an injury sustained during rehearsals earlier that day.

Dancing With The Stars celeb leaves on stretche (Image: INSTAGRAM/elaine4animals)

Alfonso stated: “Right now, she’s at the hospital and being assessed.” Audiences were assured that Elaine and Alan remain ‘still in the competition,’ with judges instead evaluating footage from their practice sessions to assign their score, reports the Mirror.

The episode revealed that Elaine had suffered a rib injury, though she would remain eligible to perform next week assuming she recovers sufficiently and survives the public vote. Ultimately, reality personality Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik were eliminated after losing the audience vote.

For Halloween week, Elaine and Alan had been practicing the Argentine Tango to Bad To The Bone. The song was notably featured in a scene from The Parent Trap, where Elaine portrayed conniving fortune-hunter Meredith Blake alongside Lindsay Lohan as twin sisters separated at birth who reunite at summer camp. Elaine took to Instagram with a video message from her hospital bed, stating: “So obviously I’m not in the ballroom, I injured my ribs during Defying Gravity and today they just seized up. The doctor has said that after a day or two of rest I should be able to continue, which is exactly what I’m gonna do.

“I wanna dance! So, Alan is holding down the fort, he’s amazing, he’s awesome. I’m so excited for this routine, you’ll get to see it in its rehearsal form.”

Alan Bersten gives update on Elaine Hendrix (Image: INSTAGRAM/alanbersten)

During the show, Alan provided an update after speaking with Elaine, saying: “I spoke to Elaine. She’s determined to come back and perform next week if we are fortunate enough to make it. The doctors have cleared her. I’m so proud of you. I will see you soon.”

Ultimately, Elaine and Alan received a score of 32, with each judge awarding them eight points for their performance.

Following the announcement of Elaine’s injury, Alan, a veteran of the show since 2015 who has partnered with singer Jessie James Decker and Britney Spears’ sister Jamie Lynn Spears among others, expressed his support on Instagram.

In a video posted to his Instagram Story, he stated: “Hello everyone, first and foremost, I wanna say, Elaine, I love you and I’m so proud of you and I know you’re gonna be back better than ever really soon. Everyone else, please vote for us, Elaine is so incredible, I love her so much and your votes would mean so much to us.”

Dancing With The Stars celeb leaves on stretcher (Image: ABC)

Alan then provided another update about Elaine’s condition, telling Extra: “I’m wishing her the speediest of recoveries I know that she is cleared to dance for next week, so we will be back next week and it’s just about pain management now.”

Beyond her role as the villain in the 1998 remake of the Hayley Mills classic, Elaine is also recognized for her appearance in the TV series Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, and portrayed Alexis Colby Carrington, the character made iconic by Dame Joan Collins, in the Dynasty reboot from 2019 until 2022. She’s also a notable presence on the platform Cameo, where she reprises her memorable Disney villain character for fans in customized videos, and reunited with Lindsay Lohan to feature in Freakier Friday earlier this year.

When questioned about joining Dancing With The Stars, Elaine revealed that she eagerly accepted the opportunity because she viewed it as a unique experience.

She told the National Desk: “I’ve never done ballroom. The whole experience for me is why I wanted to do it. I don’t know that I’d ever get this opportunity at any other time in my life. So, I had to say yes when they asked me.”