LOS ANGELES: Radio personality Bobby Bones has revealed that he returned his Dancing With the Stars Mirrorball trophy to ABC following criticism from the show’s former host, Tom Bergeron. The 45-year-old shared the news in a TikTok post on Wednesday, November 12, addressing comments that left him “really hurt.”
Bergeron had told Parade earlier that he was “shocked” by Bones’ 2018 victory, describing it as “ouch.” Bobby responded by saying the criticism hurt not because of what was said, but because of who said it.
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Bobby explained that he had no initial intention of competing on the show, as he was asked to participate to promote another program on the network. “Am I supposed to not show up and work hard? Am I supposed to not give it freaking everything that I have?” he questioned.
He also noted the backlash he receives from colleagues, including former and current DWTS hosts. “It’s crazy the amount of hate I get, even from people I respect like Tom Bergeron and Julianne Hough,” he said.
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Bobby’s candid remarks highlight the emotional toll of public criticism and the challenges of navigating fame in competitive reality TV.