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Tom Bergeron<\/strong><\/a> is opening up about his Dancing with the Stars<\/em><\/strong><\/a> exit.<\/p>\n The 68-year-old TV personality hosted the reality show from 2005 to 2020 before announcing his departure on Twitter<\/a>. Tyra Banks<\/strong><\/a> originally replaced him and Alfonso Ribeiro<\/strong><\/a> and Julianne Hough<\/strong><\/a> have since taken over the role.<\/p>\n Keep reading to find out more\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n During a recent conversation with DWTS<\/em> pro Cheryl Burke<\/strong><\/a> on her Sex, Lies and Spray Tans<\/a><\/em> podcast, Tom<\/strong> explained his exit from the show and how he felt at the time.<\/p>\n Tom<\/strong> recalled that while discussing the upcoming season with DWTS<\/em> executives in 2019, he got a \u201cphone call from the showrunner and another producer\u201d who told him the list of celebrities set to compete. <\/p>\n When he found out that former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer<\/strong><\/a> was among the contestants, Tom<\/strong> was displeased given that he had recommended that the execs refrain from casting any politicians.<\/p>\n \u201cI said, \u2018Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn\u2019t do. Don\u2019t go there. This is, you know, not the right time, play to our strengths, be the show that gives people a break from all this bulls\u2014.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom<\/strong> then suggested he \u201ctake the season off,\u201d and the showrunner and producer responded with an offer to terminate his contract.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how strongly they felt,\u201d Tom<\/strong> explained, adding that the counteroffer \u201creally pissed me off.\u201d<\/p>\n When he wrote a statement<\/a> in response to Sean<\/strong>\u2018s casting to \u201clet people know that they f\u2014ing lied to me,\u201d Tom<\/strong> realized that he would be leaving the show.<\/p>\n \u201cAt that moment, I knew this is probably my last season, because of that one betrayal,\u201d he said. \u201cUp until that point, there were people of character there.\u201d<\/p>\n The former host also described his state of mind in the aftermath of his exit.<\/p>\n \u201cThey had screwed me. I\u2019m gonna screw them,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I wanted the viewers to know this was a step too far to me. This was a step too far on the cusp of an election year. And again \u2014 had it been a Democrat, same statement.\u201d<\/p>\n Find out what Tom<\/strong> had to say<\/a> about his Dancing with the Stars<\/em> exit back in 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n