Tom Bergeronis sharing the moment he knew his time onDancing with the Starshad come to an end.
The television personality, who hosted the series from 2005 to 2020, gave context to hissudden departurefrom the ballroom competition during the latest installment of his extended chat with formerDWTSproCheryl Burkeon herSex, Lies and Spray Tanspodcast.
Back in 2019, Bergeron claimed thatDancing with the Starsexecutives sought out lunches to discuss the upcoming season. With the United States headed into a contentious election year, he recommended that the execs refrain from casting any politicians from either party to provide viewers with a“wonderful escape”from the state of the country.
Though they agreed, Bergeron recalled getting a “phone call from the showrunner and another producer” who ran down the list of the celebrities and public figures set to compete on the show.
“And this former showrunner says to me, ‘You might want to sit down for this last one.’ I said ‘Why?’ And then they told me who it was,” he continued. Alluding to ex-White House Press SecretarySean Spiceras “the former press guy for[then-President Donald] Trump," Bergeron recalled that “I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do. 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 bulls—.”
Tom Bergeron and Cheryl Burke on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Eric McCandless via Getty
Attempting to compromise, the television personality suggested he “take the season off” to which the showrunner and the producer offered to “let you out of your contract if you want.”
“That’s how strongly they felt,” Bergeron said, adding that it “really pissed me off.”
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Sean Spicer and Jenna Johnson on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Kelsey McNeal/ABC
Bergeron, now 68, recalled feeling “furious” but tried to be “Switzerland” — that is,beforehis “temper kicked in,” which he admits he knew “wasn’t going to be pretty.”
He decided to issue astatement in response to Spicer’s castingto “let people know that they f—ing lied to me.”
He recounted, “So I wrote the statement that I wrote, that did not name anybody, that did not name a political party,” he continued. “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.”
Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Adam Taylor/Abc
“So at that moment, I knew this isprobably my last season, because of that one betrayal,” he said. “Up until that point, there were people of character there.”
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
Knowing that his statement would be charged, the former game show host got advice from a lawyer who read it back and claimed it was a “well thought-out perspective” and didn’t “target anybody” but said it would put a “bullseye on your back.”
When Burke, 39, asked if the network execs knew of his intentions to release the statement, he stated that “they didn’t deserve to know.”
“They had screwed me. I’m gonna screw them,” he said of his mindset. “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.”
Tom Bergeron.Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty
Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty
Bergeron shared the news of his departure onX (formerly known as Twitter)in July 2020, writing at the time that he had been “informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me.”
During an appearance on the lateBob Saget’sHere for Youpodcast in October 2021, Bergeronadmitted he “wasn’t surprised"to be “fired” fromDWTS.
“In all candor, the show that I left was not the show that I loved,” he said. “So at the end of the season that turned out to be my last season, I kind of knew. I took everything out of my dressing room that I really wanted. … It was kind of obvious that we were kind of butting heads [behind the scenes]. It wasn’t a pleasant [experience].”
He added, “I wasn’t surprised that that was my last season, so there was no blue period. Actually, I thinkErin [Andrews]and I had more fun being fired than virtually anybody.”
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Dancing with the Starsairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC and Disney+.
source: people.com
