Nearly two years after he was unceremoniously let go from ABC's Dancing With the Stars after hosting for 28 seasons, television personality Tom Bergeron is finally getting his revenge.
Amid news that behind-the-scenes drama has resulted in Executive Producer Andrew Llinares, who ousted Bergeron, abruptly quitting the show, Bergeron took to Twitter to throw some major shade.
And the show's devoted fanbase, many of whom have bristled at the changes Llinares made, are loving it.
See Bergeron's tweet below.
Karma\u2019s a bitch— Tom Bergeron (@Tom Bergeron) 1647553248
Bergeron's tweet came after a Dancing With the Stars fan asked him for his thoughts on the bombshell news of Llinares' departure.
Bergeron needed just three small words and an emoji to sum it all up.
"Karma’s a bitch 😉"
Llinares' leadership of the show has been controversial from the start among both the show's cast and its dedicated fanbase alike. Llinares took over in 2018 amidst consecutive years of falling ratings and instituted several sweeping and unpopular changes.
Most controversial was jettisoning both Bergeron and his hosting sidekick Erin Andrews simultaneously in 2020, replacing them with model and TV host Tyra Banks. And along with Banks came a more glamorized version of the program.
The show's signature opening dance numbers were replaced by Banks making grand catwalk appearances in intricate gowns. The show's lighting became busier and more stylized as well, and constantly moving video backdrops—derided by one of the show's veterans as "screensavers" that visually overwhelm the dancers—were added to each number.
In an appearance on late comedian Bob Saget's podcast last year, Bergeron attributed his ouster to another one of Llinares' wildly unpopular changes—chasing ratings by hiring political personalities, like former Republican President Donald Trump's Press Secretary Sean Spicer, to compete on the show.
Of Llinares and the new blood he brought to the show, Bergeron told Saget:
"...[T]hose people and I did not see eye-to-eye about how best to present the show... [which should be] an oasis, for two hours every week, from all of the nonsense and the divisiveness going on right now, and let’s not put political people in there.”
The show's ratings have continued to fall season after season during Llinares' tenure.
On Twitter, the show's fans were definitely on Bergeron's side, and many applauded his response.
I stopped watching when they had Sean Spicer on. Losing Tom only solidified my reason not to ever watch again\u2026and I used to never miss a show.— Lexie (@Lexie) 1647650930
I tried to continue watching, because I loved DWTS. After a few shows, I stopped. I like Tyra, just not on DWTS. It changed the whole dynamic of the show, and NOT for the better. They really f\u2019d up. It was a no miss show with Tom & Erin. It is now a no watch show.— Julie fahey (@Julie fahey) 1647719687
Glad to see this. Maybe now they can get rid of Tyra Banks who seems to think this is "The Tyra Banks Show" instead of Dancing with the stars. Tom Bergeron and Erin made that show what it is today. Get them back.pic.twitter.com/QiWfobNvkQ— Roberta Kicinski (@Roberta Kicinski) 1647731240
Drag'em, Tom!\n\nI still miss you and Erin on DWTS.https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1504573489960742930\u00a0\u2026— HolliWinters (@HolliWinters) 1647556039
https://twitter.com/Tom_Bergeron/status/1504573489960742930\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/fjnOJlGR0Q— #SecondChanceCory Anotado (@#SecondChanceCory Anotado) 1647656226
People who make false promises and double cross others NEVER win!— Chelsie Hightower fan (@Chelsie Hightower fan) 1647553354
GREAT NEWS! I MISS TOM! Hope he comes back! I am glad this EP is gone! When TOM left, I STOPPED WATCHING DWTS!— kathy dacosta (@kathy dacosta) 1647727005
With Tom fired for voicing his opinion about keeping the show non political, which by the way he was correct in voicing that opinion, I no longer watch the show. I also, along with many ex viewers do not feel Tyra was a good fit for DWTS. Tyra fits quit with America Got Talent.— Creta De Vault-Ford (@Creta De Vault-Ford) 1647889766
True that! And @tyrabanks has made the show about HER. The \u201ccat walk\u201d\u2026the outfits\u2026it\u2019s ridiculous. Let it be about THE SHOW and THE DANCERS and it will be more enjoyable to watch. I liked Tyra on ANTM - that was a perfect gig for her. @DancingABC - notsomuch.— warrior28 (@warrior28) 1647736601
Perfect! The show has not been the same without you.— The Cooking teacher (@The Cooking teacher) 1647573559
Though the show's 31st season has not yet been ordered by the network, Dancing With the Stars is expected to return in the fall and is currently searching for Llinares' replacement.
