Bobby Bones stirred up some discussion after revealing that he feels his win in Season 27 of “Dancing with the Stars” was, in some sense, a “cheat.”
On the “Trade Secret” podcast, he shared how competitors had limited time with their partners. “For four hours a day,” he mentioned, “they talked about Jason Taltic.”
“We did a few things—record sessions, rent a studio, and train on our own,” he explained.
Bones, who had never danced prior to the show, expressed his surprise over his victory with professional partner Charna Burgess back in 2018. He described himself as a “fish out of water” on the dance floor.
Throughout the competition, he consistently scored lower than the other finalists, including Miromanheim, Evanna Lynch, and Alexis Lenn. Yet, he walked away with the Mirror Ball Trophy thanks to the audience’s overwhelming support.
“I was never really polarizing on the show; well, except for smoking,” he recalled. “I did my best but I got sevens and sixes a lot. A couple of eights, too.”
In retrospect, Bones noted that some “hardcore fans” found his win controversial. He admitted, “It was tough for viewers to see me winning…” He felt anxious every week.
However, the backlash didn’t just come from fans. In August 2024, former “DWTS” judge Julian Huff criticized Bones, stating he shouldn’t have won because he wasn’t the best dancer.
In response, Bones retorted on social media, branding himself “the biggest champion.” He remarked, “I was the worst dancer, and I’m proud of it.” He couldn’t dance then, and he feels he still can’t.
“We won together. I’m the best champion ever,” he asserted, adding, “I never claimed to be the best dancer. I’m just the guy you chose.”
After his controversial win, Bones mentioned that the show’s producers modified the voting rules. “I was a terrible dancer, but fans rallied behind me, and they changed things up afterwards,” he reflected.
The new regulations required live voting and restricted fan votes during the first episode of each season.
Despite the criticism, Bones reiterated that he cherished his time on the show. “I have friends in ‘DWTS’,” he noted. “Sharna was amazing and really tough, but I needed that.”
The 34th season of “DWTS” kicks off on September 16th at ABC and Disney+, featuring a new lineup of contestants competing for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.
