Controversial Celebrities that Participated in 'Dancing With the Stars'
Get ready for an explosive season of 'Dancing With the Stars' as controversial figures like Floyd Mayweather, Paula Deen, and Olivia Jade Giannulli take the stage Brace yourself for thrilling performances and heated debates in Season 30!
Since its first appearance, Dancing With the Stars has consistently grabbed attention, often due to its surprising choice of participants.
In a controversial move, ABC caused a stir before season 28 in the summer of 2019 by revealing that Sean Spicer would be part of the cast. This announcement prompted a strong reaction from various celebrities, including the show's host at the time, Tom Bergeron.
During a lunch with the new executive producer of DWTS a few months ago, the former host of America's Funniest Home Videos had offered suggestions for Season 28. Among them was the hope that the show, after its unprecedented year-long hiatus, would be a joyful escape from the exhausting political climate, and would avoid divisive bookings from any party affiliations. Despite leaving the lunch convinced that they were in agreement, Bergeron was let go from the show the following year and replaced by Tyra Banks.
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Scroll down for more of the most controversial celebrities who have competed on Dancing With the Stars.
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Most Controversial ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Contestants
Since its first appearance, Dancing With the Stars has frequently made news, often due to its surprising casting choices.
One of the most polarizing decisions by ABC was the addition of Sean Spicer to the cast for season 28 in the summer of 2019. Many notable figures, including former host Tom Bergeron, expressed their opinions about the inclusion of the former White House press secretary.
A few months back, I had a lunch meeting with the new Executive Producer of DWTS where I suggested some ideas for Season 28. My main hope was for the show to be a positive and uplifting escape from the intense political climate, and to avoid controversial bookings from any party affiliations. I left the meeting thinking we were on the same page, but it became clear later on that the show had decided to take a different approach." The former host of America's Funniest Home Videos tweeted. The next year, Bergeron was dismissed from the show and Tyra Banks took over.
Scroll down for more of the most controversial celebrities who have competed on Dancing With the Stars.
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Floyd Mayweather (Season 5)
The professional boxer has garnered a large following, but his casting by ABC in 2007 was a significant gamble due to his history of domestic violence. In 2001, he admitted guilt to two charges of domestic violence battery. The following year, he was found guilty of battery for physically assaulting two women.
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Tom DeLay (Season 9)
Not everyone was pleased with the former White House majority leader's politics, as he faced competition in 2009. DeLay had been indicted four years earlier for conspiring to violate political fundraising law, which ultimately led to his resignation and guilty plea. However, 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 became a part of the competition series in 2016 following a scandal in Rio, where he confessed to exaggerating about being robbed at gunpoint. While on the live show, two audience members rushed onto the ballroom floor to object to Lochte's presence, and both were taken into custody.
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Sean Spicer (Season 28)
After serving in the Trump administration, Spicer stirred controversy on social media when he joined the cast in 2018. Throughout the season, he relied on fan votes to stay in the competition, and the judges openly expressed their frustration with his limited dancing abilities.
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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.
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Olivia Jade Giannulli (Season 30)
Olivia Jade, a YouTube sensation, participated in the 2021 season of the show that aired after the college admissions scandal. In 2019, her parents were charged with allegedly paying $500,000 in bribes to secure their daughters’ enrollment at the University of Southern California.
