Bobby Bones is not happy with former Dancing With The Stars host Tom Bergeron.
The season 27 champion called out Bergeron via TikTok on Wednesday, Nov. 12 for comments he made about his win during an exclusive interview with Parade.
When asked about the most shocking elimination he witnessed during his 28-season tenure on the show, Bergeron instead offered up Bones and his professional partner Sharna Burgess as the most shocking win. The result was controversial at the time as Bones was considered one of the weaker dancers that season, and his win ultimately led to the implementation of the “Judge’s Save” from seasons 28-32.
“I try not to get my feelings hurt, especially about stuff like this, but this was hurtful,” Bones began the video. “And not because of what was said, but really who said it.”
Bones then played a snippet of the comments, noting that he took issue with Bergeron flipping the question just to criticize him. Regardless, Bones admitted he still really “likes” and “admires” Bergeron from the time they spent together during his season.
“It’s funny you’re asking about eliminations,” Bergeron told Parade. “The thing that shocked me most was a win. Bobby Bones.”
“Bobby Bones was the first time it was like, ‘Ouch,’” he continued. “No disrespect to Bobby. He would probably say the same thing.”
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Bones continued, “What was I supposed to do on that show? I didn’t even want to be on the show. Like I had no intention of being on Dancing With The Stars. I was working on [American Idol] at the network and they asked me to go on the show to promote. Am I supposed to not show up and work hard? Am I supposed to not give it freaking everything that I have? Am I supposed to throw it and not win? Like it’s crazy the amount of hate I get even from people that I respect like Tom Bergeron.”
Bones also called out Dancing With The Stars co-host Julianne Hough, who said on an episode of Watch What Happens Live in August 2024 that she “strongly disagreed” with his win.
“I feel like a sixth grader and all the ninth grade dancing kids are shoving me in lockers,” Bones added, “What did I do? I had a great attitude, I worked hard, and here we are 6 years later, I’m still catching strays out of nowhere.”
The radio personality then made a shocking reveal — he returned his Mirrorball Trophy back to ABC.
“I sent the trophy back. They don’t want me to be apart of the show, obviously, so I don’t want to be somewhere that doesn’t want me to be there,” he said. “I loved my time there, but I would say things like this…have just taken all the joy away from my time on the show, which is crazy because it was such a great, joyous time even though I was the only one in the whole crew that was dancing that had a full-time job at the same time.”
He concluded, “I’m out. Nobody wants me there anyway, so go where you’re celebrated not tolerated. But yeah, the Bergeron thing hurt a little bit I’m going to be honest with you.”
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On the evening of Nov. 12, Bergeron apologized to Bones and posted a screenshot of his message to him via his Instagram Story.
“Bobby, it wasn’t my intention to hurt your feelings. My ‘ouch’ was based on my honest feeling that your win spoke to a need to address the balance between judge and viewer voting,” he wrote. “I always felt bad that you & Sharna had to deal with the aftermath of that win & I certainly regret pouring any salt into that old wound.”
Bergeron returned to DWTS for the first time since 2018 as a guest judge for the Tuesday, Nov. 11 “20th Birthday Party” episode celebrating the show’s milestone anniversary.
Dancing with the Stars airs LIVE on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+ and streams next day on Hulu.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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