Tom Bergeron is making a comeback to “Dancing With The Stars” after five years since his departure, and he stands by his decision that led to him losing his job in the first place.
The popular dance competition is marking its 20th anniversary on Tuesday night, and Bergeron will return as a guest judge, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Bergeron was the host of the show from 2005 to 2019 until his dismissal in 2020 following his public objection to the casting of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer on the show.
It wasn’t Spicer himself that was the issue for Bergeron, but rather his stance that the show should steer clear of political affiliations altogether.
“It amuses me when I see comments on social media suggesting that if I hadn’t brought politics into the show, I wouldn’t have been fired,” he shared with THR.
“I made a conscious effort to keep politics out of the show. Even in my statement, I made sure not to mention any political party or Sean [Spicer], as that wasn’t the crux of the matter.
“I even expressed to Sean, ‘Even if they had chosen Hillary Clinton — I voted for her, but I wouldn’t want her on the show. This was in 2019, just before the election year,’” Bergeron clarified. “It was a misstep, and after being assured that such decisions wouldn’t be made, only for them to go back on their word, that was the final straw.”
Since Bergeron’s departure from “DWTS,” political tensions have escalated, reinforcing his resolve to avoid casting politicians on the show.
“Look at the current state of affairs — the government is at a standstill. There’s no communication between them,” he remarked. “I’ve always believed that ’Dancing With the Stars’ should be a two-hour escape from all the chaos, a time to have fun, enjoy yourself, and witness the camaraderie among the cast.”
Bergeron acknowledges the perspective that having politicians on the show humanizes them, but he strongly disagrees, stating that it “only adds to the tensions.”
