Bobby Bones Stirs Controversy with His “Dancing With the Stars” Victory
Season 27 winner of Dancing With the Stars, Bobby Bones, recently revealed a controversial aspect of his victory during an appearance on Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast. The popular radio host disclosed that he had bent the rules to win the coveted Mirrorball Trophy alongside his dance partner, Sharna Burgess.
Bones explained, “What I did was sort of cheating because they allocate only a set amount of time for practice with your partner, about four hours daily. After completing these sessions, I would record them, then rent a studio on my own to continue practicing, which was technically not allowed as it exceeded the time limits set by the show.”
Fans of the show might recall Bones mentioning in 2018, during his time on the competition, that he had managed to fit in additional practice hours despite his hectic schedule.
“At that time, I was still running my daily radio show, starting at 3 a.m. in Los Angeles, and I was touring for stand-up comedy over the weekends,” he recounted. “It was an incredibly challenging period; managing to eat, stay hydrated, work, and maintain a semblance of normal thinking was tough.”
Bones admitted that he was not a standout dancer on the show, saying, “I wasn’t polarizing in any way except that I was pretty bad at dancing. I wasn’t out there claiming to be the best. I tried my hardest, which got me scores like sevens, a few sixes, and some eights.”
As Bones progressed in the competition, his continued presence became a topic of debate, especially as he advanced over contestants who received higher scores. He stated that he had been “very transparent” about his dancing skills on the show, describing himself as “very vulnerable.”
“The fact that I kept winning was tough for long-time viewers of the show,” he added during the podcast.
After the season concluded, Bones was informed by producers that he had achieved the “highest ever vote separation in the show’s history.”
He shared a telling comment from a show executive, “A very non-vocal majority supports the show. One executive even joked that I could have done anything, even something as outrageous as peeing during my final performance, and still won. However, they never disclosed this to me during the show.”
The controversy surrounding Bones’ victory led to significant changes in the show’s format. The producers adjusted the voting system to create a better balance between the judges’ scores and audience votes. Additionally, Season 28 saw the introduction of the Judges’ Save, which allowed judges to prevent the elimination of a dance pair.
Bones remarked that these changes were implemented to prevent a repeat of his situation, as his victory had inadvertently led to the elimination of talented dancers. He noted, “The dedicated fanbase of the show can be quite harsh.”
While Bones is not competing in the upcoming 34th season of DWTS, he hinted that fans might spot him in the audience as former contestants often revisit the show.
Dancing With the Stars Season 34 is set to premiere on Tuesday, September 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Hi, I’m Emily, a passionate and dedicated member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a keen eye for detail and a love for writing, I ensure that the latest celebrity news, major economic trends, and helpful tips for your home are presented in the most engaging and informative way possible. Fun fact: During a particularly exciting news story, I once managed to finish an article in record time, fueled solely by copious amounts of coffee and pure adrenaline!
