On April 20, 2026, Willi Banner was eliminated from „Let’s Dance“ after his sixth performance, ending his run in the 19th season of the RTL dance competition.
The 31-year-old influencer, born Willi Willwohl in Cottbus, had transitioned from a promising cycling career to social media fame, amassing over 2.1 million Instagram followers and 7 million on TikTok by February 2026 under the name Willi Banner.
His journey on the present began with a strong start, earning a perfect score of 10 points from the jury for his Viennese waltz with partner Patricija Ionel in the premiere episode.
However, his performance in the Michael Jackson-themed special — a rumba to „Liberian Girl“ — drew mixed reactions, with judge Joachim Llambi criticizing his limited movement and dubbing him the „inventor of the standing rumba.“
Despite some positive feedback from judge Jorge González, Banner failed to secure enough public votes to advance, a outcome he acknowledged stemmed from personal doubts about his dancing ability.
Banner’s elimination allowed Bianca „Bibi“ Heinicke to return to the competition after previously being voted out, following an injury-related withdrawal by Esther Schweins that opened a spot for her comeback.
The episode also featured notable moments beyond Banner’s exit, including Anna-Carina Woitschack and Evgeny Vinokurov achieving the first perfect 30-point score of the season with a tango to Michael Jackson’s „Beat It,“ prompting an enthusiastic reaction in the Cologne studio.
Why did Willi Banner struggle to convince the judges and voters despite his fitness reputation?
Judges noted his difficulty translating athletic discipline into expressive dance, with Llambi stating he lacked the fluidity needed for Latin styles, which limited his appeal even though his endurance and discipline were never in question.
What does Banner’s exit reveal about the challenges influencers face when transitioning to performance-based television?
/wp:heading –>His elimination underscores that online popularity does not guarantee success in structured performance environments, where technical skill and artistic interpretation are judged independently of social media reach.
