Jake T. Austin has left the dance floor. The Wizards of Waverly Place and Fosters veteran was the first celebrity eliminated from Dancing With the Stars season 23 and he told E! News he's feeling "bittersweet." Hey, it's understandable.
"I wish I could've done better. I mean, there's mixed emotions. Overall I'm really lucky, I'm really happy," Austin told us after he was eliminated. "Just a little bummed out, other than that this was an awesome experience."
Austin and pro dance partner Jenna Johnson danced the jive to "Kiss You" by One Direction during their first week. They received a 22 out of 40. During the second week of performances, TV Night, they did the Cha-cha-cha to the Go, Diego, Go! theme song and scored a 24.
"This was my worst fear to be honest with you. When we were standing on that stage I was like, ‘Please don't let it be me.' And it happened. You prepare for the worst, hope for the best. It was the opportunity of a lifetime," Austin told us. "Learning from Jenna was an unforgettable experience and I mean that in every sense of the word. It was incredible."
Johnson said the two have a special bond thanks to being the same age. " It wasn't just showing up and having to do business, I feel like we speak the same language…and it was an awesome journey together," she said.
As for his biggest takeaway from the brief DWTS experience, Austin said, "It's not as easy as it looks. It's obviously a way to test yourself…I'm really happy I got out there and I did it."
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays, 9 p.m. on ABC.