‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 32 premiere may be delayed as Matt Walsh drops out amid WGA strike

Joyce Eng
·3 min read
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The “Dancing with the Stars” Season 32 premiere is likely to be delayed as the first celebrity has dropped out due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.

“Veep” star Matt Walsh said in a statement Thursday that he is “taking a pause” from the ABC series until a new deal is made between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Walsh is a member of WGA, SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America.

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“I am taking a pause from ‘Dancing with the Stars’ until an agreement is made with the WGA,” Walsh said. “I was excited to join the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement. This morning when I was informed by my union, the WGA, that it is considered struck work I walked out of my rehearsal. I have been and will always stand with my union members of the WGA, SAG and DGA. Beyond our union artists, I am sensitive to the many people impacted by the strike and I hope for a speedy and fair resolution, and to one day work again with all the wonderful people I met at ‘DWTS’ who tolerated my dancing.”

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Performers who participate on “Dancing,” like Walsh and his fellow cast members, the hosts and judges, are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules because reality shows like “Dancing” fall under the Network Code agreement, which is different than the TV, theatrical and streaming contract the guild is striking. “Dancing” is a WGA-covered show, however, employing one WGA writer among a crew of 500, which prompted picketing outside rehearsals this week. WGA and SAG-AFTRA members have also pressured the celebrity cast, which includes Mira Sorvino and Alyson Hannigan, to drop out.

A source told our sister site Variety that “Dancing” could continue without Walsh, but it would be more complicated if additional celebrities drop out. ABC also confirmed to Variety that the show is putting plans in place to postpone the premiere, which was scheduled for Tuesday and was to run for two and a half hours. Walsh was one of 14 celebrities in the Season 32 cast and was partnered with Koko Iwasaki.

The WGA and AMPTP met on Wednesday and are are scheduled to meet again on Thursday.

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