Tom Bergeron Reveals Disagreement Over Sean Spicer's Casting Led to His 'Dancing With the Stars' Exit

Bergeron claims that producers promised a non-political cast before the 2020 election year, but went back on their word to include Spicer, resulting in his public critique and subsequent firing from DWTS.

Tom Bergeron, former host of 'Dancing With The Stars', revealed that his abrupt exit from the show in 2020 was due to a disagreement over the casting of former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. He said showrunners had promised a non-political cast amidst the contentious 2020 election season, but broke their promise with Spicer's inclusion.
Bergeron expressed his frustration on Cheryl Burke’s 'Sex, Lies and Spray Tans' podcast, explaining that he had specifically advised the show's executives not to cast politically-affiliated contestants, in order to create an escape from societal divisiveness for the viewers. However, they went behind his back and chose Spicer.
In retaliation to the 'betrayal', Bergeron released a public statement critiquing the showrunners for introducing politics into the show. He did not warn the producers before releasing the statement, stating they 'didn’t deserve to know'. This public critique led to his firing from the show.
Despite the tension and his eventual exit, Bergeron continued to host the season alongside co-host Erin Andrews, who also ended up leaving the show. Following their departure, Tyra Banks was announced as the new host.
Sean Spicer responded to Bergeron's comments, stating that he 'loved being a part of Season 28' and enjoyed the current season. He expressed hope that viewers can 'put every policy and politics aside' while watching the show.

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