Tom Bergeron Apologizes to Bobby Bones Over ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Win Comments
A recent exchange between former “Dancing with the Stars” host Tom Bergeron and season 27 champion Bobby Bones highlights lingering debate over the show’s voting dynamics and the impact of fan bases.
Tom Bergeron has issued an apology to Bobby Bones following comments made about Bones’ controversial win on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018. The exchange began when Bergeron, speaking with Parade on Tuesday, was asked about the most shocking eliminations in the show’s history. He responded that a win, specifically Bones’ victory with partner Sharna Burgess, was more surprising.
“It’s like Andy Richter this season. He’s charming and has such a big heart. Do I think he’s going to win? No. Do I think he’s bringing a quality to the show that epitomizes what the show is? Absolutely,” Bergeron explained. “But bobby Bones was the first time it was like, ‘Ouch.’ No disrespect to Bobby. He would probably say the same thing.”
Bones’ win remains a point of contention among fans, as the radio personality consistently received lower scores from the judges compared to fellow finalists Milo Manheim and evanna Lynch, who ultimately placed second and third, respectively. However, Bones benefited from a dedicated and highly active fan base that propelled him to victory through consistent voting.
On Wednesday, Bones addressed Bergeron’s remarks in a TikTok video, stating, “I try not to get my feelings hurt, especially about stuff like this, but this was hurtful.” He clarified that his disappointment stemmed from the source of the criticism, adding, “It wasn’t because of what was said, but really who said it.”
Bones revealed that his participation on “Dancing with the Stars” wasn’t initially planned, but was offered as part of a cross-promotion with another ABC show he was already working on. He expressed frustration with the continued negativity surrounding his win, even after seven years.”I had a great attitude. I worked hard, and here we are, like six years later, I’m still catching strays out of nowhere,” he said.
Adding another layer to the situation, Bones disclosed that he returned the Mirrorball trophy to ABC, stating, “They don’t want me to be a part of the show, obviously. So I don’t wanna be somewhere that doesn’t want me to be there.” He confirmed he no longer possesses the award. Bones also expressed dismay over criticism from Bergeron and Julianne Hough, lamenting that they had “taken all the joy away from my time on the show.”
Following Bones’ TikTok post, Bergeron reached out with a personal apology. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt your feelings,” Bergeron wrote. “My ‘ouch’ was based on my honest feeling that your win spoke to a need to address the balance between judge and viewer voting.” He added, “I always felt bad that you and Sharna had to deal with the aftermath of that win and I certainly regret pouring any salt into that old wound.”
Bergeron further elaborated on social media,explaining,”I was doing so many interviews leading up to the 20th [anniversary show] I was bound to say something inelegantly,” accompanied by a facepalm emoji. He also jokingly added, “Sorry, Bobby.Sometimes I should fall back on my mime training.”
As of Thursday, bones has not publicly responded to Bergeron’s apology. The exchange underscores the ongoing discussion about the role of judges’ scores versus audience votes in determining the outcome of reality competition shows like “Dancing with the Stars.” .
– “Dancing with the stars” premiered in 2005 and has aired for 32 seasons, becoming a staple of reality television.
– Fan voting considerably impacts the results on “Dancing with the Stars,” sometimes overriding judges’ scores.
– Bobby Bones’ win sparked debate about whether celebrity popularity should outweigh technical dance skill in competition shows.
