Sarah Michelle Gellar has posted a tear-jerking tribute to her best friend and former co-star Selma Blair, after she was forced to bow out of Dancing with the Stars due to ongoing health concerns.
50-year-old Selma, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018, announced her exit from the dance competition during rehearsals with her professional dance partner Sasha Farber.
The pair performed one last dance together on Monday night's show. They left the audience in tears with a powerful waltz to Andra Day's What The World Needs Now Is Love.
Following the performance, which earned all 10s from the judges, 45-year-old Sarah took to Instagram to share a picture of her and Selma and a touching message.
"Long before @dancingwiththestars I knew you were a ten, and now the world knows," the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star wrote.
"Selma I’ve never been so proud of you (and I’m often proud of you). You make the rest of us believe that we can do anything. That we can never give up.
"And a special thank you to @sashafarber1 for making this experience what it has been for James- pure joy.
"I will miss getting to watch the happiness radiate from Selma each week as she stepped on stage with you. Thank you for that gift."
She concluded her message by writing: "And speaking of gifts- @selmablair your love and friendship is the greatest gift. I love you Blair"
During the episode, Selma told Sasha: "You know I've been monitored and in touch with my doctors this whole process. I had these MRIs and when the results came back, it just all adds up to I can't."
She added: "I can't go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could.
"With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations and my body is definitely taking a hit.
"It's way too much for the safety of my bones. There's just intensive bone trauma and inflammation among rips and tears so I could do extensive damage that of course, I do not want."
The theme of Monday's episode was Most Memorable Year.
Selma's routine was choreographed to reflect the year 2018 when she was diagnosed with MS.
"I was so sick for so many years. I was searching and searching for how to help myself," Selma said.
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