Tom Bergeron Speaks Out on Instagram About Alfonso Ribeiro Co-Hosting 'Dancing With the Stars'

Dancing With the Stars is welcoming Alfonso Ribeiro to the ballroom and Tom Bergeron has something to say about it.

Hours after ABC announced that the 2014 Mirrorball champion would be joining Tyra Banks as a cohost for season 31, Tom broke his silence about Dancing With the Stars’ latest change. As the DWTS fandom knows, Tom hosted the longtime competition show for 14 years before he was let go in the summer of 2020. The news also affected his cohost Erin Andrews, who received the same phone call, ending her five-year run on the popular TV series. But by the sounds of it, neither Tom nor Erin are upset about Alfonso’s next career move.

“Now, getting Conrad Green back as DWTS showrunner is only ONE of their smartest decisions. Here’s the other one 👏🏼,” Tom captioned a July 14 Instagram post. “Congratulations, buddy!” While the comedian didn’t mention Alfonso by name, he shared two heartwarming photos of them together.

What’s more, Alfonso responded to Tom, dropping a sweet message in his comments section. “I just hope I can make you proud,” he wrote. Tom reassured him with another note, replying: “I have no doubt 😉👍🏼.”

Coming full circle, Erin also chimed in with her own thoughts about Tom’s original caption. “I agree on both! Congrats @therealalfonsoribeiro,” she wrote.

In case you’re wondering what he was referring to, Tom had previously celebrated the news that TV veteran Conrad Green was returning to Dancing With the Stars as the showrunner and executive producer. He held the showrunner title for nearly a decade before he left in 2014. “Best decision they’ve made since 2005, when they hired him the first time 😉👏🏼,” Tom tweeted on June 27.

Without skipping a beat, Dancing With the Stars fans voiced their opinions as well. But there was a mix of emotions. On one hand, many joined Tom celebrating his fellow America’s Funniest Home Videos star and on the other, some couldn’t help but call for Tom's return again.

“I second this! Congratulations, Alfonso!” one person wrote in Tom's Instagram comments. “So glad to see Tom’s on board that makes me feel [so much] better,” another added. “Wish it was you and Erin, but happy that Alfonso will be joining. He’ll bring back the comedy!” a different fan said.

Whether Tom and Alfonso ever reunite in the ballroom is unknown but it seems like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor will try to keep his legacy going.

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