Tom Bergeron Speaks Truth On ‘Dancing With The Stars’, If He Wasn’t Fired, He Would’ve Left Himself

Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) aired its 20th-anniversary special on November 11, 2025. As the show completed its quarterfinals and moved into the semifinals, many celebrities who had been part of previous instalments returned in season 34. The most notable among them was former DWTS judge, Tom Bergeron. His return created a memorable moment in the Week 9 episode, as he shared some shocking insights about his sacking as DWTS‘ host in 2020.

Why was Tom Bergeron fired from Dancing with the Stars?

Tom Bergeron was fired from his hosting role on Dancing with the Stars in July 2020, a decision stemming from a disagreement with producers over casting a political figure, Sean Spicer, in 2019. During a 2021 podcast, Tom stated that “the show that I left was not the show that I loved” and that he had been “butting heads” with producers over how they wanted to present the show to the viewers. DWTS was heading in a “new creative direction,” and amid that, the inclusion of a political figure like Sean Spicer did not sit right with Tom. The casting of a former White House Press Secretary in Season 28 (2019) was a significant point of contention between the producers and Tom.

Tom had advised the producers not to cast any partisan political figures to keep the show a “joyful respite” from the contentious political climate. However, his suggestion was ignored, and he felt it was a “betrayal” of the prior agreement he had with them. Tom then offered to sit out the season, but producers instead decided to release him from his contract entirely. Following that, ABC and BBC Studios officially announced that Tom Bergeron and co-host, Erin Andrews would not return for DWTS season 29 as they wanted to “make the show feel fresh, making it feel new and make it reach out to a new audience.” Tom said:

“In all candor, the show that I left was not the show that I loved,” Bergeron said on the late Bob Saget’s podcast in 2021. “So at the end of the season that turned out to be my last season, I kind of knew. I took everything out of my dressing room that I really wanted. It was kind of obvious that we were kind of butting heads [behind-the-scenes]. It wasn’t a pleasant [experience].”

Tom Bergeron claimed that he would’ve left DWTS if he hadn’t been fired

During his recent chat with Parade, Tom Bergeron claimed that he would have left Dancing with the Stars on his own terms even if he hadn’t been fired in 2020. Tom shared that he had a predetermined plan to leave the show since COVID-19 struck. He had left the previous show he hosted, America’s Funniest Home Videos, on his own accord and intended to do the same with DWTS. He stated:

“The truth of the matter is, I wouldn’t have been the host now anyway, even if they hadn’t fired me. I left America’s Funniest Home Videos at a predetermined time of my own choosing, and I was going to do that on Dancing.”

Tom Bergeron also mentioned another reason he was considering quitting DWTS. He used a proverb to indicate that he saw the positives in every situation and wanted to be around people. As per him, the show’s seasons during COVID-19 would have restricted his mingling with the show’s ‘gang’. He wouldn’t be able to throw parties and mix with them freely like in the other seasons. Regarding his Dancing with the Stars exit, Tom Bergeron told Parade:

“I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy. Those last two seasons were…[during] COVID, so everything I love about the show, the camaraderie, throwing mid-season parties for the whole gang, I couldn’t have done that. To be honest, had I gone the whole 30 seasons, this is probably the way I’d go back anyway.”

What are your thoughts on Tom Bergeron’s revelation regarding his Dancing with the Stars exit in 2020? Let us know.

Also Read: ‘Dancing With the Stars’, Eliminated Contestant Praised By Kaitlyn Birstowe During Week 9 Of ‘DWTS’