Bobby Bones reveals he returned 'Dancing with the Stars' trophy after 'hurtful' insult
- - Bobby Bones reveals he returned 'Dancing with the Stars' trophy after 'hurtful' insult
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY November 13, 2025 at 10:11 PM
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Bobby Bones is opening up about the "amount of hate" he still receives for his 2018 "Dancing with the Stars" win – and revealing he returned the trophy.
The radio personality and podcast host, 45, posted a TikTok Nov. 12 responding to comments from Tom Bergeron, a former judge on "DWTS," who told an interviewer from Parade that Bones' 2018 win had been the one he was most surprised by. Bones won alongside partner Sharna Burgess, beating out Milo Manheim and pro Witney Carson.
"Bobby Bones was the first time I kind of … it was like ouch," Bergeron said, making a face.
Though he was a host during Bones' tenure, the 70-year-old television personality was let go from the show in 2020. Bergeron returned this month for a guest spot to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary.
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"I try not to get my feelings hurt, especially about stuff like this, but this was hurtful," Bones said before playing the clip in his TikTok, adding it was less "because of what was said, but really who said it."
"I didn't even want to be on the show," Bones continued. "I had no intention of being on 'Dancing with the Stars.' I was working on a different show at the network, they asked me to go on the show to promote. Am I supposed to not show up and work hard?
"It's crazy the amount of hate I get, even from people I respect like Tom Bergeron there, and Julianne Hough," he said, adding that he didn't know Hough, who is now one of the hosts of the show.
Tom Bergeron, Bobby Bones
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"Like what did I do?" Bones said. "I had a great attitude. I worked hard, and here we are, like six years later, I'm still catching strays out of nowhere."
Revealing he had since sent the coveted Mirrorball back to ABC, Bones cautioned listeners to go where you're wanted, not "tolerated."
"So, I sent the trophy back. They don't want me to be a part of the show, obviously. So I don't want to be somewhere that doesn't want me to be there," Bones said.
Tom Bergeron apologizes to Bobby Bones for 'DWTS' comment
Bergeron later apologized, posting a screenshot to his Instagram stories Nov. 12 of a DM he sent to Bones on the app.
"Bobby, it wasn't my intention to hurt your feelings. My 'ouch' was based on my honest feeling that your win spoke to a need to address the balance between judge and viewer voting," he wrote. "I always felt bad that you & Sharna had to deal with the aftermath of that win & I certainly regret pouring any salt into that old wound."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bobby Bones returned 'DWTS' trophy after Tom Bergeron insult
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
