Sean Spicer is weighing in on former Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron's claims that he quit the show over his casting.
Bergeron, 68, helmed the dancing competition for 15 years, and three years after his abrupt exit, he has dished on exactly what – or rather who – influenced his departure.
Speaking on former DWTS pro Cheryl Burke's podcast Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans, the veteran television personality detailed why the former Press Secretary to Donald Trump's casting ultimately drove him to leave the show.
Spicer has since responded to the claims, telling the New York Post: "I've always thought Tom was a great host," adding that he "loved being a part of season 28" and additionally is "thoroughly enjoying the current season."
In his conversation with Cheryl, Bergeron recalled that ahead of the 28th season of the show, which was set to air during the contentious 2020 election season, he suggested to show execs that they forgo casting any politicians from either party in order to offer viewers a "wonderful escape" from the anxiety-inducing news cycle of the time.
In his conversation, he shared that there was an agreement to follow through, however, recalling a subsequent meeting to go over the cast, he then said: "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," before referring to Spicer as "the former press guy," to Trump.
© GettyHe continued: "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 [expletive.]'"
Eventually he said showrunners and producers' compromise was suggesting he take the season off, however, calling the decision a "betrayal," he said: "At that moment, I knew, 'This is probably my last season.'"
© ABCBergeron had previously alluded to his feelings about the casting in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, at the time denouncing the casting of any politicians, which he told Cheryl he didn't warn the DWTS crew about, stating: "They had screwed me. I'm gonna screw them," and added: "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."
He was subsequently let go of DTWS, and wrote in another Tweet in July 2020 he had been "informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletterand get them delivered straight to your inbox.
