You Wanna Be On Top? The Backlash Against Tyra Banks Hosting ‘DWTS’
ABC/Eric McCandless Reading Time: 4 minutes
Supermodel businesswoman Tyra Banks was no stranger to reality competition shows when it was announced that she would take over hosting duties on Dancing With The Stars. Fans of the long-running dance competition show were shocked that long time hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews were fired before the show’s 29th season. With an executive producer credit as well, ABC looked to revamp the show and banked on Banks as a good refresher, but fans continue to show their anger at the change in hosts.
Banks hosted America’s Got Talent in 2017, and is the successful creator of the controversial reality show America’s Next Top Model. A once staple in households, in recent years the show, as well as its fierce leader, has come under scrutiny for the way contestants were treated.
It seems like every other day there is a new scandal that is trending that exposes the harsh conditions of filming the modeling competition show. So why would the decision makers at ABC bring Banks on board for DWTS and fire two beloved hosts?
It is not unheard of for shows that are well into their second decade to want to bring in new energy. What is surprising is that Dancing with the Stars always brought new energy by casting exciting and relevant stars to compete. The show is in its own lane because those who watch will realize their favorite stars of today or even yesteryear are participating in a particular season.
Is Banks Ruining ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for Longtime Fans?
Before the start of Season 29, old and new faces of the show kept an open mind about Banks joining the show, but once the season began fans quickly expressed their disappointment.
“Tyra is a horrible host for #DWTS. The Dancers were great! But Tyra is really out of her element, she didn’t know what to ask the dancers, the judges seemed to ignore her. It wasn’t pretty. I miss Erin & Tom!” One fan tweeted, and was quickly joined by similar sentiments.
During her first season hosting the show, Banks mistakenly announced dancing couple Monica Aldama and Val Chmerkovskiy as safe, before calling the duo back out to take their correct spot in the bottom two leading up to the finale. The fans were absolutely outraged at the host’s latest flub.
The overall reaction showed that fans never came around to the catwalk diva taking over a show about dancing. The outcry of fans meant nothing to the executives at ABC, however. Banks returned for her second year as host and continued to treat the ballroom like her personal runway, and making awkward comments that distracted from the purpose of the show.
The hype for the landmark 30th season was at an all time high, but fans were not amused to see Banks return. The backlash even had flocks of viewers sign a petition to fire her and return Dancing With The Stars to its “former glory.” The call to action is nearing 15,000 signatures.
Can Fans Learn to Embrace the Fashionista as Host?
The strong opinions that fans expressed in Season 29 were the same this past season. Viewers were turned off by Banks constantly making post-interview questions all about her, and not giving the contestants a chance to speak. The motto the show must go on seemed to be non-existent, as Banks became known to point out every mistake that happened throughout the show. In true supermodel fashion, Banks’s extravagant outfit choices also angered fans who, again, thought the focus should be on the contestants, not the host.
There is an art to hosting a live competition show, a skill that many do not think Tyra possesses. It seems to be in her nature to want to be the center of attention. Banks dominated in the modeling industry, which was all about getting eyes on her. Having to always be seen, and to be a canvas to sell the fashion that she wore, was a part of her life for decades. It seems that Banks is having a hard time tuning that part of her character down.
Once Banks learns that she does not need to sell viewers on Dancing With The Stars and it is okay to let others into the spotlight, perhaps she can help usher in a new era of the hit show.
I’m amazed that all the changes made to the show, were okay to other producers, and people involved. She has interjected herself in EVERY aspect of this show. Even on advertising pictures, they show her instead of what its about..The Dancers!!
This was once a favorite program on Monday nights and now it is a BIG Disappointment..that isn’t watched anymore!
Get rid of Tyra as the host of DWTS. The show is about the dancing not her self serving prancing.
Tyra needs to go. DWTS is not a runway for her to flaunt her outrageous “get ups” she sees as a fashionable choice to wear. Trya…WAKE UP!!! The show is not about you!! And to be so rude to the dancing couples is unreal. And for God’s sake she must get paid per word she says cause you can’t understand half of it for all the rambling she does. Please get us a new or returning host!! Let’s end this craziness and put a respectable show back on top where it belongs or it won’t be for long if she… Read more »
Let her go. Bring back Tom or Alfonso. No DWTS pro either.
She has to go. All about her. Get Alfonso back if Tom won’t come back. Don’t need a previous DWTS either.
I found the format awkward and kept trying to continue as a 20+ season fan, but finally gave up my viewing and I can only attribute that to Tyra’s grandstanding….Never saw or thought that about any of the others on the show, whether Judges or Hosts, even when mild ‘arguments’ arose between the Pros and a Judge….which were quickly resolved.
Tyra Banks sucks on Dancing with Srars
I miss DWS. I refuse to watch it until they get rid of Banks. They made a good moving Alfonso in. I haven’t watched it since Banks was brought in. I check every so often to see if she is gone but she must be doing something to someone to make them keep her because it’s not talent or personality or taste in clothing.
I never thought there could be a worse hostess than Brooke Burke. But then came Tyra Banks. Both are so bad I had a hard time watching the show and ballroom dancing was my passion. Forget about bring in models as host, please! They only want the spot light on them! Bring back Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews please!
I would like to see Banks replaced. I slso don’t like the judges saving a couple.
I completely agree I’ve watched the show since season 5. This was an overreach at you’re not trying to get us as viewers or to get a younger demographic it is bullshit untrue 100% worse mistake that could have been made for the show. Now ABC doesn’t even view it it’s on Disney plus and she still screwing up and blaming anyone but herself! Did you see what she did to Jimmy Allen last season? Enough said she should have been gone after the first episode of season 29! Getting rid of tomberger’s wrong with the biggest mistake the show… Read more »