Dancing With the Stars fans were shocked when long-time host Tom Bergeron was fired ahead of the show’s 29th season. In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, BBC Studios and ABC said, “Tom Bergeron will forever be part of the Dancing with the Stars family. As we embark on a new creative direction, he departs the show with our sincerest thanks and gratitude for his trademark wit and charm that helped make this show a success.”
Tom had been the host of DWTS since it’s June 2005 debut. Tom took to Twitter to share the news. “Just informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me. It’s been an incredible 15 year run and the most unexpected gift of my career,” he tweeted. “I’m grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made. That said, now what am I supposed to do with all of these glitter masks?”
Tom’s co-host, Erin Andrews, was also axed. Erin competed on Season 10 of DWTS and finished in third place with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Erin replaced Brooke Burke as Tom’s co-host.
In September of 2020, executive producer Andrew Llinares defended the decision to fire Tom and Erin and replace them with Tyra Banks, per Entertainment Tonight. “Any show like this that has been on for many, many seasons needs to continue to evolve. So, I think changing that host is all about evolution,” Andrew stated.
“It was all about making the show feel fresh, making it feel new and make it reach out to a new audience — as well as the audience that’s been there for years.” Andrew added that Tyra “brought a new life to everything.” She certainly brought elaborate costume changes.
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People reported that Andrew, who worked on DWTS for five seasons, has departed the series. And Tom had a shady response to Andrew’s exit.
A fan shared a tweet about Andrew’s departure, and tagged Tom, asking him for his “thoughts.” Tom did not disappoint. “Karma’s a b—,” he tweeted with a winky face emoji. Tom for the win!
According to People, Tom discussed his dismissal during an October 2021 interview on the late Bob Saget’s podcast, Here For You. “In all candor, the show that I left was not the show that I loved. So, at the end of the season that turned out to be my last season, I kind of knew,” Tom explained. “It was kind of obvious that we were kind of butting heads [behind-the-scenes]. It wasn’t a pleasant [experience].”
Tyra has also stirred up plenty of controversy. A source claimed that the new DWTS host allegedly made it known “behind the scenes that all of the Real Housewives cast members have been banned.”
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Tyra’s publicist denied that Tyra said that. “This is 100 percent untrue. She’s a huge fan of the ‘Housewives’ and everyone knows Tyra is a businesswoman first,” her publicist stated. “She has nothing to do with casting.”
Last season, Real Housewives of Atlanta peach Kenya Moore waltzed around the ballroom. Season 30 was monumental in many ways. It saw the first same-sex couple, with pop star JoJo Siwa dancing with pro Jenna Johnson. They slayed with every routine.
Pro Cheryl Burke and her partner, Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby both contracted Covid-19 and practiced remotely during quarantine. They even danced a routine remotely from each of their homes. That was a DWTS first.
In the end, NBA star Iman Shumpert won the mirror ball with his partner Daniella Karagach. Jenna and JoJo came in second place, but are grateful to be besties.
I hope that next season, if Tyra hosts, we can cut her costume changes, and get back to the DWTS group dances at the top of the show. Please!
TELL US- DO YOU MISS TOM AND ERIN HOSTING DWTS? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF TOM’S REACTION TO ANDREW’S DEPARTURE?
[Photo Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic]
