Bobby Bones speaking out about Dancing With the Stars contestants
Reality TV

Bobby Bones Calls Out 'DWTS' Stars Pretending Dance Backgrounds Don't Help

The Season 27 Mirrorball champion says it's "insulting" when contestants with years of training act like ballroom is a whole new struggle.

By Nina BrooksPublished Updated 2 min read

Bobby Bones is calling absolute cap on *Dancing With the Stars* contestants who pretend their lifelong dance training vanishes the second they put on ballroom shoes. The former Mirrorball winner took to social media to call out past and present competitors who play coy about their huge head start on the dance floor. According to the country radio host, a recurring narrative on the hit reality competition grates on his nerves. Every season, stars with decades of formal movement training arrive and immediately tell viewers that because ballroom is new to them, they face the exact same uphill battle as everyone else.

What did Bobby Bones say about DWTS contestants?

In an Instagram video posted online, the 46-year-old host did not hold back about the excuses he keeps hearing from trained performers. Bones argued that claims of ballroom being a total equalizer are completely false, pointing out that years of rhythm, technique, and performance training provide a massive, undeniable edge. He explained that watching seasoned dancers act like they are struggling on equal footing with total beginners feels disingenuous. Bones added that it feels "a little insulting" when stars with extensive dance backgrounds minimize their advantage by pointing out that they haven't specifically waltzed or quickstepped before.

Bobby Bones speaking out about Dancing With the Stars contestants
Bobby Bones speaking out about Dancing With the Stars contestants

Did Bobby Bones have dance experience before winning DWTS?

Bones speaks from personal experience as a true underdog. When he joined the cast for Season 27, the podcast host had zero dance training to his name. Alongside his professional partner Sharna Burgess, he defied the odds and snatched the Mirrorball Trophy in November 2018, pulling off one of the biggest shockers in the franchise's history. His unexpected triumph proved that raw fan support and enthusiasm could overcome a lack of technical polish. But as conversations swirl around stars with professional backgrounds—such as Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., or Julia Stiles—Bones just wants future celebrity dancers to be real about their skills instead of pretending the competition is a completely level playing field.

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People also ask

Which season of Dancing With the Stars did Bobby Bones win?
Bobby Bones took home the Mirrorball Trophy during Season 27 of Dancing With the Stars in November 2018 alongside partner Sharna Burgess.
Did Bobby Bones have dance experience before DWTS?
No, Bobby Bones entered the competition with zero formal dance experience, making his Season 27 victory a huge underdog win.