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Drama in and out of the ballroom! Ever since its debut, Dancing With the Stars has made headlines — sometimes for its eyebrow-raising casting.
One of the most controversial decisions by ABC came ahead of season 28 in summer 2019 when Sean Spicer was announced as part of the cast. At the time, many celebrities reacted to the news about the former White House press secretary, including then-host Tom Bergeron.
“A few months ago, during a lunch with DWTS‘ new Executive Producer, I offered suggestions for Season 28,” the former America’s Funniest Home Videos host tweeted at the time. “Chief among them was my hope that DWTS, in its returning following an unprecedented year-long hiatus, would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from ANY party affiliations. I left that lunch convinced we were in agreement. Subsequently (and rather obviously), a decision was made to, as we often say in Hollywood, ‘go in a different direction.’”
He added, “It is the prerogative of the producers, in partnership with the network, to make whatever decisions they feel are in the best long term interests of the franchise. We can agree to disagree, as we do now, but ultimately it’s their call. I’ll [leave] it to them to answer any further questions about those decisions.”
Bergeron was let go from the show the next year and replaced by Tyra Banks. Still, the controversial casting continued the following season with Carole Baskin. The Tiger King star was cast after being accused of having something to do with the disappearance of her former husband, Don Lewis. She denied having any involvement.
In September 2021, a source confirmed to Us Weekly that Olivia Jade Giannulli would compete on season 30. The influencer is best known for being part of the college admissions scandal after her parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, were accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters’ admissions into the University of Southern California. Although the couple initially maintained their innocence, they later pleaded guilty to fraud charges and both spent time in prison.
Olivia, for her part, performed with Val Chmerkovskiy until their elimination in November 2021.
“I’m very proud of her. I’m proud of us. I’m proud of this season,” the dancer told Us after being sent home. “It meant a lot to me to be in a position to help somebody, period. But also somebody that could have used it. I’m grateful for that opportunity. I’m grateful that it worked too. We did win some folks over. We did get a chance to shed a different light on her and show her in a different spotlight. And then also show that she earned it, that she wasn’t just given it. She earned her stay here and for eight weeks, it’s been a blast. I got a lot of love for this young lady and I got a lot of love for the universe for bringing us together and giving me a chance to do this season.”
Scroll down for more of the most controversial celebrities who have competed on Dancing With the Stars.
Credit: Shutterstock
Most Controversial ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Contestants
Drama in and out of the ballroom! Ever since its debut, Dancing With the Stars has made headlines — sometimes for its eyebrow-raising casting.
One of the most controversial decisions by ABC came ahead of season 28 in summer 2019 when Sean Spicer was announced as part of the cast. At the time, many celebrities reacted to the news about the former White House press secretary, including then-host Tom Bergeron.
“A few months ago, during a lunch with DWTS‘ new Executive Producer, I offered suggestions for Season 28,” the former America’s Funniest Home Videos host tweeted at the time. “Chief among them was my hope that DWTS, in its returning following an unprecedented year-long hiatus, would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from ANY party affiliations. I left that lunch convinced we were in agreement. Subsequently (and rather obviously), a decision was made to, as we often say in Hollywood, ‘go in a different direction.’”
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He added, “It is the prerogative of the producers, in partnership with the network, to make whatever decisions they feel are in the best long term interests of the franchise. We can agree to disagree, as we do now, but ultimately it’s their call. I’ll [leave] it to them to answer any further questions about those decisions.”
Bergeron was let go from the show the next year and replaced by Tyra Banks. Still, the controversial casting continued the following season with Carole Baskin. The Tiger King star was cast after being accused of having something to do with the disappearance of her former husband, Don Lewis. She denied having any involvement.
In September 2021, a source confirmed to Us Weekly that Olivia Jade Giannulli would compete on season 30. The influencer is best known for being part of the college admissions scandal after her parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, were accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters’ admissions into the University of Southern California. Although the couple initially maintained their innocence, they later pleaded guilty to fraud charges and both spent time in prison.
Olivia, for her part, performed with Val Chmerkovskiy until their elimination in November 2021.
“I’m very proud of her. I’m proud of us. I’m proud of this season,” the dancer told Us after being sent home. “It meant a lot to me to be in a position to help somebody, period. But also somebody that could have used it. I’m grateful for that opportunity. I’m grateful that it worked too. We did win some folks over. We did get a chance to shed a different light on her and show her in a different spotlight. And then also show that she earned it, that she wasn’t just given it. She earned her stay here and for eight weeks, it’s been a blast. I got a lot of love for this young lady and I got a lot of love for the universe for bringing us together and giving me a chance to do this season.”
Scroll down for more of the most controversial celebrities who have competed on Dancing With the Stars.
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Credit: Shutterstock
Floyd Mayweather (Season 5)
The pro boxer has a huge fan base but was a huge risk for ABC when they cast him in 2007, as he has a history of domestic violence. In 2001, he pled guilty to two counts of battery domestic violence. One year later, he was convicted for battery for fighting two women.
Credit: Shutterstock
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Tom DeLay (Season 9)
Due to his politics, not everyone was happy with the former White House majority leader, who competed in 2009. Four years prior, DeLay was indicted on charges of conspiring to violate political fundraising law, leading to a resignation and a guilty plea. The conviction was later overturned.
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Paula Deen (Season 21)
Two years after a scandal, during which Deen was caught using racial slurs and fired from multiple jobs, the chef attempted to redeem herself on the reality show in 2015.
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Ryan Lochte (Season 23)
The Olympic swimmer joined the competition series in 2016 after his scandal in Rio, when he admitted to overexaggerating about being robbed at gunpoint. During his time on the live show, two audience members ran onto the ballroom floor to protest Lochte’s appearance; they were both arrested.
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Sean Spicer (Season 28)
After working under former president Donald Trump, Spicer caused an uproar on social media following his casting in 2018. During the season, he was consistently saved by fan votes and the judges admitted to being frustrated by his lack of dance skills.
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Carole Baskin (Season 29)
After being accused of having a part in her former husband’s disappearance, many fans were not happy with the Big Cat Rescue CEO being given a platform on the competition show.
Credit: Shutterstock
Olivia Jade Giannulli (Season 30)
The YouTube star competed on the 2021 season of the series following the college admissions scandal. Olivia Jade’s parents were indicted in 2019 after being accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters’ admissions into the University of Southern California.
