Most Controversial ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Contestants

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 [return] 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.’”

Bergeron was let go from the show the next year and replaced by Tyra Banks.

Scroll down for more of the most controversial celebrities who have competed on Dancing With the Stars.