Tom Bergeron was let go from Dancing with the Stars after a clash with show executives over the casting of Sean Spicer, a former White House press secretary. Bergeron publicly opposed bringing political figures onto the show, arguing it should be an escapist two-hour break from current events, and he says he was surprised when Spicer was nonetheless cast. The tension over that casting decision contributed to his departure, which occurred at the end of Season 28. He has since described his exit as not about personal politics but about the show's direction and its use of controversy for ratings.
