‘DWTS’ Host Tom Bergeron Responds To Backlash After Uncomfortable Comment To Pro Dancer Witney Carson
Dancing With the Stars host Tom Bergeron can usually do no wrong, but he suffered an unfortunate case of foot-in-mouth during the most recent live episode of the ABC celebrity ballroom competition. After celebrity dancer Frankie Muniz and his pro partner Witney Carson performed a Viennese waltz, DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba commented that the Malcolm in the Middle star “almost lost control of Witney.” That’s when host Tom Bergeron offered his own analysis of the situation, saying, “I’m guessing he’s not the first guy who’s lost control of Witney.”
The longtime ABC host tried to laugh off the joke amid a stunned a reaction from the audience, explaining that Witney can sometimes be “a harsh taskmaster,” but the pro dancer seemed extremely uncomfortable. After the live show, Witney Carson told reporters she didn’t understand Tom Bergeron’s comment to her and that she planned to just try to forget about it.
“I didn’t really get it at first because I was like, I don’t really get what that means, but yeah, thanks. Thanks for whatever that was,” the DWTS pro said, according to Entertainment Weekly. “But I’m just going to brush it off, and I hope you guys do too.”
Witney Carson’s partner, Frankie Muniz, added, “I think it was just Make Witney Uncomfortable Day.”
While Witney is moving on, not all Dancing With the Stars fans have forgotten about it. After the incident played out on live TV, DWTS fans took to social media to express surprise and even outrage over what many felt was an “inappropriate” comment by Tom Bergeron. As a major sexual harassment narrative continues to play out in Hollywood, some fans even described Tom’s comment to Witney as sexual harassment. Others came to the longtime Dancing With the Stars host’s defense, saying Tom tried to explain the comment on air and that he meant nothing inappropriate by it.
You can see the mixed fan reaction to Tom Bergeron’s comment about Witney Carson below.
@Tom_Bergeron that was so inappropriate towards Witney. And men wonder what #metoo is about
— Andrea G, J.D.?? (@AndreaG114) November 7, 2017
I can't believe my ears. Tom Bergeron
— karenAnn (@karenfadusky) November 7, 2017
@Tom_Bergeron first Cheryl and now Whitney you should start carrying aloe vera with you for those burns! #DWTS
— Hannah Shimshi (@Hannah_Shimshi) November 7, 2017
Why must we assume it was sexual? Could he possibly have meant lost control in the context of dancing? The man is leading but she's the pro?
— David Monreal (@GodFollower1983) November 7, 2017
He explained what he meant right on the live show! NOT sexual harassment AT ALL.
— Ariana Rossi (@SafariAri73) November 7, 2017
While Tom Bergeron is usually good for an off-the-cuff save, he later responded to his misunderstood comment on social media. After a fan wrote to Witney: “I thought the @tombergeron comment meant that you were tough, focused, weren’t going to be led around or any kind of a pushover,” Bergeron posted that he couldn’t have said it better himself.
@WitneyCarson I thought the @Tom_Bergeron comment meant that you were tough, focused, weren’t going to be led around or any kind of a pushover.
— Walt Thomas (@samohtretlaw) November 7, 2017
The Dancing With the Stars host also retweeted an explanation that was posted by a fan. Shortly after the incident, Tom Bergeron retweeted this message, which seems to explain that he meant his remark to Witney Carson as a compliment.
@WitneyCarson I? think @Tom_Bergeron meant you can’t be controlled ! It was a compliment! You take the lead! Embrace it girl ???
— Ms Jules (@JulesVidro) November 7, 2017
You can see Tom Bergeron’s awkward comment to Witney Carson at the 3:35 mark in the Dancing With the Stars video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xQYL0MwGJc&t=58s
[Featured Image by Eric McCandless/ABC]
