Witney Carson Says She Will ‘Brush Off’ Tom Bergeron’s Comment on ‘Dancing With The Stars’
As the host of “Dancing With the Stars,” Tom Bergeron often ad-libs jokes to lighten the mood. But on Monday’s show, he delivered a comment to one dancer that some felt went too far.
After dancer Witney Carson and her celebrity partner Frankie Muniz performed, judge Carrie Ann Inaba offered her critical feedback, saying, “So far for me, that was the closest thing to perfection. I mean, you are so exquisite when you dance, it’s just so clean. I look for mistakes, but I don’t see them – except for when you almost lost control of Witney there.”
To which Bergeron then added, “I’m guessing he’s not the first guy who’s lost control of Witney.”
The comment elicited gasps from the crowd. Carson later said in an interview that she didn’t really understand the implication of Bergeron’s comment at first, “but I’m just going to brush it off, and I hope you guys do, too.”
Many fans took to Twitter to voice their dissatisfaction. One viewer directly related the comment to the #metoo campaign that is drawing attention to sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.
@Tom_Bergeron that was so inappropriate towards Witney. And men wonder what #metoo is about
— Andrea Gagliardi (@AndreaG114) November 7, 2017
Another called for Bergeron to publicly apologize for his comment.
He owes Witney Carson an apology on live tv. No apologies via tweet. That’s cowardly.
— SusieP (@spjp0731) November 7, 2017
I wish I had the chance to ask @WitneyCarson how badly she wanted to slap @Tom_Bergeron tonight?
— Brock Roshon (@B_Rosh_1980) November 7, 2017
But others found Bergeron’s comment funny and took no issue with it.
"I'm guessing he's not the first one who has lost control of Witney…" Tom BERGERON FOR THE WIN
— Erin (@twiterLsErin) November 7, 2017
Wow, people were offended by @Tom_Bergeron comment about Witney Carson last night???? Get a life, the comment was funny, I thought!!
— Jennifer Irons (@TeamBobbyEwing) November 7, 2017
Though Bergeron did not directly address the comment, he did seem to try to offer an explanation by retweeting one comment from a viewer:
@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
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