Tom Bergeron didn’t leave Dancing with the Stars by choice; he was let go by the network in 2020 as part of what ABC/Disney called a “new creative direction” for the show. Since then, he has stayed friendly in public about the franchise but has also been candid that the show had changed in ways he didn’t like before his exit.

Quick Scoop

  • Tom Bergeron was the original host of Dancing with the Stars and fronted the show for 28 seasons before being suddenly dropped in July 2020.
  • ABC/Disney framed the decision as the show “evolving” and moving in a new creative direction, while thanking him for his wit and long tenure.
  • Bergeron later said he had already sensed tension behind the scenes and felt the show “was not the show that [he] loved” by the time of his last season.
  • One key flashpoint was the controversial casting of political figure Sean Spicer, which Bergeron publicly opposed and has cited as a major behind‑the‑scenes clash.
  • After his firing, he stressed that he hadn’t quit, joked about being “informed” the show would continue without him, and focused on other projects while staying generally positive about his years there.
  • In later interviews he revealed he had actually planned to leave after a later season anyway, saying his contract ran through season 30 and he was already thinking about moving on.
  • Years after the split, with a previous showrunner back in charge, he agreed to return only in a limited way (such as a one‑night guest role) rather than resuming full‑time hosting.

Why He Was Let Go

  • The official line from ABC/Disney was about “new creative direction” : they wanted to refresh the format and tone, which included changing hosts.
  • At the production level, executives talked about the need for the show to “evolve,” which they used to justify replacing Bergeron and co‑host Erin Andrews.

Tom’s Side Of The Story

  • Bergeron has said he saw the writing on the wall and even cleared out his dressing room before his final season ended, because he felt the vibe had shifted and that he and producers were “butting heads.”
  • He has described later seasons as less fun for him, saying the version of DWTS he left was no longer the light, feel‑good show he’d originally signed on to.

Role Of The Sean Spicer Casting

  • A big breaking point came when producers cast former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, which Bergeron opposed because he wanted the show to stay away from partisan politics.
  • He has recounted that he even offered to sit out the season over that disagreement, and that producers countered by offering to release him from his contract, underscoring how deep the rift had become.

What He’s Done Since (And Latest Buzz)

  • After leaving DWTS , Bergeron focused on other TV and media appearances and maintained that he was at peace with how things turned out, saying he still had “great fondness” for the friendships and career boost the show gave him.
  • With time and producer changes behind the scenes, he warmed up to the idea of a brief return, teasing and then confirming limited‑time appearances connected to anniversaries and special episodes rather than a full hosting comeback.

Bottom line: Tom Bergeron was fired, not retired, from Dancing with the Stars , after creative and political clashes with producers, but he has since made peace with it publicly and only engages with the show on his own very careful terms.

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