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Tom Bergeron Opens Up About How Sean Spicer's Casting Led To His Bitter Exit From 'DWTS'
Television host Tom Bergeron has opened up about the drama that led to his departure from Dancing With The Stars, and how it all came down to politics.
On a recent episode of DWTS alum Cheryl Burke's podcast "Sex, Lies and Spray Tans," Bergeron said that his exit began with the show casting former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in its 28th season.
Spicer is the short-lived first Press Secretary of former Republican President Donald Trump's term, and made himself infamous for yelling obvious lies during press conferences, such as the claim that Trump's sparsely attended inauguration had the biggest crowd in history. The lies only got worse from there, of course.
Bergeron said his decision to call out the DWTS producing team for casting someone associated with Trump's administration ultimately led to him being fired from the show in 2020 after 15 years of hosting it.
Host With The Most with Tom Bergeron Part 2 | Sex, Lies, and Spray Tansyoutu.be
Bergeron told Burke he was on very good terms with the producers prior to the Spicer incident and had just signed a multi-year contract to continue hosting.
In advance of the upcoming season, producers asked Bergeron for his casting recommendations. With the 2020 election looming, he advocated against politicians of any kind, so the show might be a "wonderful escape from all that divisiveness for two hours a week."
Bergeron says producers agreed but then reneged, calling him a few weeks later to inform him they'd cast Spicer. Bergeron told Burke he was "furious" about the decision.
“I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do!’ And I would have responded the same way if they had booked Hillary Clinton, whom I voted for."
"‘Don’t go there. This is not the right time. Play to our strengths. Be the show that gives people a break from all this bullsh*t.’ So, I was furious.”
Bergeron then took to Twitter in 2019 to tell everyone how they "fu**ing lied to me," revealing, without naming names, what had gone down. After the 28th season featuring Spicer, he was replaced by Tyra Banks, as was his co-host Erin Andrews.
On social media, many fans of the show voiced their support upon hearing Bergeron's story.
@Variety Just so you know, I think it was a bad idea to bring a political person to the show, a man who spent the entire time lying for trump, not to mention Spice is a kiss ass and that's why SNL made fun of him, what a joke. BTW, Spice ruined it for me, don't watch anymore!— (@)
Tom's totally correct. There's no reason to make #DWTS some political statement. Just leave it be fun.
— Wizard of Widgets (@wizardofwidgets) October 25, 2023
He had the right idea, I’m tired of political BS being shoved down our throats. This show is supposed to be escapism for many & a good time. Miss Tom, but ❤️ Alfonso! He’s the perfect person to have taken over, just wish it had been immediately after Tom left. Tyra was not good.
— Kristina (@txcranberry) October 25, 2023
Name the names... which execs?
— A Perfect Indictment (@MeanJ0ker) October 25, 2023
Makes me like Bergeron more.
— Meredith Schensul (@97calbear) October 24, 2023
Speak out…. And you will be silenced.
— G.B. (@gbboyd77) October 24, 2023
Betting 'Spicy' Spicer wishes he was axed as well ! pic.twitter.com/nNb4egbQrK
— LannaMick (@lanna_mick) October 24, 2023
I stopped watching after Tom left. It’s unwatchable now.
— Cat Woman (@catwomn) October 24, 2023
Despite all the drama, Bergeron told Burke he has no regrets, saying that he and Andrews "had more fun being fired than virtually anybody.”