Tom Bergeron Spills New Details on Controversial Firing
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It's been a long tail for Tom Bergeron's relationship with Dancing with the Stars after his surprise end as long-running host on the show in 2020. But, speaking on former DWTS pro Cheryl Burke's podcast, he has provided the most insight yet as to how he suddenly got dismissed from the program. And it all comes down to Sean Spicer.
Appearing on Burke's "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans" podcast, Bergeron opened up about the series of events that led to his sudden firing from behind the mic. As he recalls, in 2019, he had made a pitch to ABC executives to refrain from casting any controversial politicians. The country was about to head into a tense election year in an already chaotic time in politics, and he felt that DWTS should serve as a "wonderful escape" for people.
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According to Bergeron, the execs agreed in the moment. But he was in for a rude awakening when he received a call from the former showrunner listing out the celebs for the then-upcoming Season 28. He made allusion to Spicer, the former White House Communications Director under President Donald Trump. "I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn't do," he recalls. "Don't go there. This is, you know, not the right time, play to our strengths, be the show that gives people a break from all this bull[expletive].'"
Suffice it to say, Bergeron was not pleased the network went against his recommendation. And he was even more incensed when, after trying to compromise by offering to take the season off, the showrunner and another producer offered to "let you out of your contract if you want." That seemed to be the last straw for him. In his opinion, the show went out of their way to not listen to him, and were willing to lose him to put Spicer on.
This series of events is what led Bergeron to pen the statement he released shortly before the season began. "[It] did not name anybody, that did not name a political party," he says. "It merely said, 'I was told certain things when I was asked my opinion, they agreed, and now they've thrown a curveball.' I even went so far as to say it's their right to do that. They're the producers of the show, if that's what they want to do they are entitled to do that. We will have to agree to disagree."
Bergeron had a lawyer review his statement prior to publishing it, wanting to make sure nothing was slanderous. Though it passed the smell test, the lawyer said it would put a target on his back, which he was well-aware of. "At that moment, I knew this is probably my last season, because of that one betrayal," he says. "Up until that point, there were people of character there."
Burke asked him if he wanted to warn the network executives about the statement he was about to release. But, for Bergeron, they didn't deserve to know what was coming. "They had screwed me. I'm gonna screw them," he explains. "But I wanted the viewers to know this was a step too far to me. This was a step too far on the cusp of an election year. And again — had it been a Democrat, same statement."
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Of course, the rest is history. In July of 2020, two months before the premiere of the 29th season, Bergeron announced Dancing with the Stars was continuing on without him. It provoked shock and dismay from longtime fans of the series, only increased with the announcement that Tyra Banks would replace him as host. Though Banks, as well as then-executive producer Andrew Llinares, have since been dismissed off the show, given the way Bergeron left things, he is not eager to return to DWTS anytime soon.
Next, here's everything you need to know about Dancing with the Stars season 32.
