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Fans of “Dancing With The Stars” were shocked and appalled in 2020 when Tom Bergeron, who had hosted the ABC reality show for 28 seasons since it premiered in 2005, was abruptly fired and replaced by the supermodel Tyra Banks. Now, Bergeron and his fans have finally been vindicated, as Banks has announced that she is leaving the show. 

Banks Leaving ‘Dancing With The Stars’

“I feel it’s really time for me to focus on my business and my entrepreneurship, and also producing more TV — but behind the scenes,” Banks, 49, told TMZ. “I think it’s time to graduate from the dance floor to the stock market floor. … from the ballroom to the boardroom!”

When asked to clarify if this meant she was leaving “Dancing With The Stars,” Banks replied, “Don’t you think it’s time? Yeah, I think it’s time.”

“I’m an entrepreneur at heart. … I think my heart, my soul, is into my business, it’s also into producing new TV,” she added. “But, I really, really want to focus on my business, and you can’t do that hosting a show.” 

Related: Former ‘DWTS’ Champ Alfonso Ribeiro Torches Show For Firing Tom Bergeron

Fans Livid After Bergeron’s Firing

Fans were stunned in 2020 when Bergeron, 67, took to Twitter to reveal that he had been fired from “Dancing With The Stars.”

“Just informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me,” Bergeron tweeted at the time, according to Yahoo News. “It’s been an incredible 15 year run and the most unexpected gift of my career. I’m grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made. That said, now what am I supposed to do with all of these glitter masks?”

As soon as Banks took over hosting duties for “Dancing With The Stars,” fans made it clear that she couldn’t hold a candle to Bergeron:

Related: Tom Bergeron’s DWTS Replacement Has Fans Questioning Show Producer’s True Agenda

Bergeron Discusses Firing

Bergeron further opened up about his firing in an interview the next year. 

“In all candor, the show that I left was not the show that I loved,” Bergeron said, according to The Wrap. “The end of the season that turned out to be my last season, I kind of knew. So I took everything out of my dressing room that I really wanted… It was kind of obvious that we were butting heads.”

“The show had changed a lot for me starting in early 2008,” he continued. “We had very clear, sometimes public, differences of opinion about the new showrunner and some of the execs and happily, I was at a point in my life and career where I didn’t have to just shut up and take it. I decided to go public with some concerns I had at that time and I think that set the stage for it. I kind of saw it coming.”

Bergeron Doesn’t Want To Complain

Bergeron went on to say that despite the way he was fired, he didn’t want to complain. 

“You know what nobody needs to hear? A whiny millionaire,” Bergeron said. “I mean, look. I had great fortune. I mean, I had two network shows running simultaneously for the better part of a decade and a half.”

Bergeron concluded by saying that he’s moved on to other things, and that “Dancing With The Stars” is “pretty far in the rearview mirror” for him.

Bergeron is an amazing host who never should have been fired in the first place. Now that Banks is making her exit, ABC would do well to ask Bergeron to return as host if they want their show to be a success again!

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