Image Credit: Adam Larkey/ABC; Bob D'Amico/ABCThe producers of Dancing With the Stars today attempted to put the kibosh on any lingering resentment over Bruno Tonioli and his critique of contestant Michael Bolton (whom the judge accused on Monday of performing “probably the worst jive” in the show’s history). They released the following statement: “Bruno’s role as a judge is to give his honest opinions on the quality of the dances he’s judging, which is what he did in this case. While we respect the feelings of our celebrities and our dancers, we don’t feel Bruno should be expected to apologize for doing his job.”
During Tuesday’s elimination episode, Bolton expressed his disappointment backstage with co-host Brooke Burke by saying, “I think Bruno was inappropriate and disrespectful.” Even host Tom Bergeron told EW on Tuesday that Tonioli’s comments were ”over-the-top” and that “it’s one thing to criticize someone’s dance, but Bruno deserved to be chastised by Len.” Bergeron said he was going to give Tonioli a chance to amend his comments last night, but it never happened.
Ultimately, Tonioli’s assessment echoed what the viewers were feeling: The singer was voted off the show on Tuesday.
For more on Bolton’s exit:
Dancing with the Stars recap: Dog gone
He deserved worse comments. That dance was awful. Also what Len said was far worse than what Bruno said. His poop scoop comment gave me the impression that he felt the dance was a pile of …..well, you know.
Agree! And yet he then decides to admonish Bruno?! This whole thing makes no sense.
He can do his job without being disrespectful. Bolton is not a professional dancer. He is still learning how to dance. If a pro dancer danced like that, then Bruno would have been justified in his comments.
Exactly. They are “stars” (or semi-stars anyway.) calm down already judges. Follow Carrie Ann’s example.
It’s a competition. If the dance sucked, the dance sucked. This is not a 3rd grade recital. Michael Bolton is an adult, he should be able to handle negative commments. People should stop getting all over Bruno for DOING HIS JOB, and get on Michael for being a big baby.
I thought Bruno said the poop scoop comment. Len said Michael should have stayed in the dog house (bad enough), but Bruno had to go one step further into the disgusting.
No, Len made the pooper scooper comment.
Bruno should be dumped from the show. He is disgusting and Michael Bolton is much more of a star than Bruno will ever hope to be and Bruno should have shown a little respect. There is no reason to be nasty. A few weeks ago Bruno (who is openly gay) said that he would like to take one of the male contestants home with him. What a jerk. His private life should be just that.
He ads DRAMA, sad but they will not let him go
Oh, he’s said worse things to the sexy young females. Everytime it was time for him to say something to Mya, she’d cringe.
Amen to that Mellissa! I’m shocked at the things that man gets away with saying to people, both men and women!
Carrie Anne DOES say things like that to the guys, and that’s just fine? It IS. Your problem, Gwen, is that you’re a homophobe. In which case… why are you even watching dance shows?
Totally agree!!!!!!!!!!!!
@gwen homophobe much? so what if you says he wanted to bring a guy home with him, wow i thought were past all this hatred against gays straight people can make that comment and its fine but gays cant wtf?
Thank you, your right. KEEP IT TO YOURSELF BRUNO!
Would you be saying the same thing if Carrie Ann said that about a male contestant? Because it seems like a non-issue to me.
Honestly, I feel bad for contestants of both sexes when the judges make various innuendos during their remarks. They’re there because they want to dance, not get lusted over in public.
You can be a judge and still be respectful. You can be a critic and not be the pompous cartoon character that Bruno has turned into. The problem with reality shows with judging elements is that the judges start thinking of themselves as being bigger than the show and they want THEIR time in the spotlight. its happened on project runway, idol, top model, etc.; it’s went from honest critiques to searching for the next soundbite. team bolton.
Good points about the judges. Though I would venture to say that the judging on this show has never really been about “honest critiques.”
Really? I’ve always seen the judging panel on DWTS as one of the best…they’re entertaining, definitely, but they also provide specific critiques and constructive advice. Len, Carrie Ann, and especially Bruno have had their moments…but as a whole, they’ve been an excellent panel, IMO.
The dance was not great, but Bruno’s comments were definately inappropriate. The judges should offer constructive criticism. Bruno’s comments were just plain insulting.
I couldn’t agree more with Sue’s comment.
He was constructive. He explained what was wrong with the dance. I see no issue here.
HE NEED TO STOP SINGING TO. AND BRUNO SHOULD NOT SAY SORRY, TO THE GROWN ASS BABY.
Do we ever proof-read what we write ? This “statement” makes little or no sense. Let’s learn proper communication skills before we decide to post comments. This nonsense adds nothing to the discussion !
I agree about proof-reading. I ALSO think it’s about time words get spelled correctly!!Do these people know the difference between to, too and two???
You forgot “tew”
In spite of all that, journalism majors, Vanessa is dead right.
I hate all 3 of the judges. That’s why I had stopped watching the show. Shame on you Bruno.
So, Karen, why are you still here, writing comments?
Why are people mad about this? He’s a judge, he judged the man’s dance. Geez when Simon Cowell says comments like that everybody laughs and says “That’s Simon” so why the double standard here?
That’s because Cowell was judging “singers” on their singing. The celebrity dancers are not really dancers.
If anything the American Idol judges should be more delicate with contestants than their DWTS counterparts. The AI contestants seriously want singing careers: the stars on DWTS are theoretically established successfully in their chosen field of endeavour & are trying dancing for fun – being told they can’t dance shouldn’t be that big a deal to them.
@Buzz Orf Look, man. If you worked your a** off for two weeks on something only to be told that you were the worst ever, it would affect you no matter what it was. Bruno’s comments were unnecessarily harsh.
And some of those “singers” aren’t really singers, so what’s your point? Simon Cowell has said much worse to some of the contestants on AI. Let’s all just face the fact that Michael Bolton was never going to become a dancer, no matter how many weeks they kept him around. He sucked, Bruno was honest and told him so. Would it have been better if Bruno had lied and told him how terrific he was? I can’t believe that MB actually went into the judging thinking that mess of a dance was actually good. And his partner deserved some criticism too, for choreographing that disaster.
Not the same situation. DWTS recruits most of these stars and they are not expected to be experts. They are there to learn. If Idol went out of their way to get NFL stars and actors to show up and sing, then Simon’s comments would have been inappropriate.
This show and these working-the camera judges epitomizes all that is wrong with reality programs. Everyone wants to be front and centered. Bruno should take his over-the-top fake personality and leave
Bruno should take his over-the-top fake personality and leave….thank you thank you….his ridiculous ‘Ricky Ricardo’ shtick is so not funny..so not cute.
You can express an opinion and remain civil. This is not an exercise in “say anything”. He can keep it ALL to himself for my part. I’ve seen each of them be rude on a few occasions over the seasons of the show, but Bruno does not need a platform if he has no better concept of how to critique. That was NOT what I consider appropriate, nor was it in any way a promotion of the show, and it was certainly not entertaining!
BRUNO IS TAKING A LOT OF VIEWERS AWAY FROM THE SHOW. HES NOT FUNNY. HES A DISGRACE!
I’ve been watching this show from day one NO MORE..these stars are not dancers and they deserve more respect than bruno gave michael bolton.. no wonder their having trouble getting stars to join who wants to be exposed to this kind of hurtful critisisum…
DWTS is having trouble getting stars to join? Sez hoo?
Sez the evidence of the worst set of so-called (but not really) “starts” ever this season?!
Oops! I meant to say “stars”!
Honestly? I can’t believe anyone takes all this so seriously. Including Bolton. It’s not like he was criticized for his singing. I don’t think the judge owes an apology. This all goofy.
Everyone has an ego. More he tried the more serious he would’ve taken it. Besides, Bruno humiliated the man on national TV.
In front of his MOM, dude…
Bruno has always been too obnoxious, he is way too over the top and is irritating to listen to and watch. He is the reason I don’t care for the show…This was just another downer for this show…another reason for me not to continue watching it! Get a new judge thats not so obnoxious and stupid.
i stopped watching this show for BRUNO.
Me too.
Me too. I only tuned in again this season because of Jennifer Grey and the judges are rating her on a completely different scale. It’s a joke and Bruno is unbearable.