Tom Bergeron recently spoke out about his departure from ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. The former host, who had been with the show for 15 years, was not shy about expressing his thoughts on the matter. In a candid interview on the podcast “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans,” Bergeron shared his perspective on the conversations that led to his dismissal.
According to Bergeron, prior to the 28th season of the show, he had signed a new contract for three more seasons. During lunch meetings with unnamed producers, he voiced his concerns about casting political figures given the upcoming presidential election and the divisive climate in the country. He urged the producers to make the show a “wonderful escape” for viewers, a two-hour break from the ongoing political turmoil. At the time, the producers seemed to agree with Bergeron’s suggestion.
However, a few weeks later, Bergeron received a phone call from two producers informing him that they had cast Sean Spicer, the former White House Press Secretary under Donald Trump. Bergeron was livid and felt betrayed by the producers. He had made it clear that casting political figures, regardless of their party affiliation, was not the right move for the show at that time.
Bergeron offered to take the season off in protest, but the producers countered by letting him out of his contract entirely. This angered Bergeron even more, and he took to Twitter in August 2019 to express his frustration. He wanted viewers to know that the decision to cast Spicer was a step too far, especially in the midst of an election year.
Fans of Dancing with the Stars rallied behind Bergeron, expressing their agreement with his views. Bergeron admitted that his intention was to make a statement and let the viewers know that he felt betrayed by the producers. He believed that they had lied to him about their casting decisions.
When asked if he had informed the producers about his statement beforehand, Bergeron responded that they did not deserve to know. He wrote a carefully worded statement that did not mention anyone by name or reference any political party. His aim was to highlight the difference between what he was told and what actually happened, regardless of his own political beliefs.
Despite his disappointment with the casting decision, Bergeron continued to host the show for that season. Spicer was eventually voted out, but Bergeron knew it would be his last season due to the betrayal he felt. He acknowledged that his statement had put a target on his back, and his lawyer had warned him about the potential consequences.
Bergeron also addressed the rumors that his appearance on Fox’s The Masked Singer was a factor in his dismissal. He dismissed those claims, stating that being a contestant on another show was not a valid reason to fire someone. He stood by his decision to confront the producers about their actions and believed that they didn’t like being called out publicly.
In July, Bergeron announced his departure from Dancing with the Stars, and co-host Erin Andrews also left the show. Tyra Banks was announced as the new host, but Bergeron described her as a “curiosity.” Banks eventually left, and Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough took over as hosts for season 32.
ABC has not commented on Bergeron’s statements about his dismissal.
