Sean Spicer's 'DWTS' casting sparks backlash: 'More like dancing to fascism'

The lineup for season 28 of Dancing with the Stars has been revealed, with The Bachelorette’s Hannah Brown, supermodel Christie Brinkley, former NBA star Lamar Odom and actor James Van Der Beek — who actually foretold his casting in the 2012-13 sitcom Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23 — breaking out the sequins. But it’s another ballroom-bound bold-faced name who is making the biggest waves: former White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

Video: Lineup for ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 28 revealed

During his tenure for the Trump administration — he left in 2017— Spicer made headlines for insisting that Trump had “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe,” despite evidence to the contrary. His gaffes and habit of berating the media became fodder for Melissa McCarthy, who won an Emmy parodying him on Saturday Night Live.

After reportedly turning down a previous offer to star on DWTS, the 47-year-old has officially agreed to lace up his dancing shoes. And while he told Instagram followers that he’s “excited” to hit the dance floor, critics of his work for the Trump administration are less enthused.

As with his controversial appearance in a skit at the 2017 Emmys, Spicer’s DWTS casting is being slammed as endorsing and normalizing a “professional liar.” Some have also threatened to boycott the show.

Meanwhile, DWTS host Tom Bergeron has posted a note on social media explaining his hope that the show “would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from ANY party affiliations.” While Bergeron didn’t explicitly name Spicer, he admitted that producers opted to instead “go in a different direction.”

Spicer — who has spoken about the moments he “screwed up” during his White House stint — was also called out by reporter Katie Pavlich for denying he’d do the show during a 2018 interview.

“Well it is true that I have no rhythm,” he responded on Wednesday.

Will his two left feet and public backlash result cut his DWTS time short? Or will conservatives back Spicer à la Bristol Palin, daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who sashayed her way to a third-place finish in 2010? Viewers will find out when the new season kicks off on Sept. 16.

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