On September 13, the celebrity cast of the hit show Dancing with the Stars was announced on Good Morning America. It was a huge event where the celebrity cast members, along with their professional partners, hosts Julianna Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, and judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Anna Inaba all made it to the stage.
They spoke with GMA hosts Michael Strahan and Lara Spencer about the new season and what it means to the celebrity contestants to compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
While the cast might have been excited to see everyone together, many fans voiced their outrage at ABC's casting choice. One of the celebrity contestants is former NFL player Adrian Peterson. Peterson has been arrested multiple times on charges of domestic violence and child abuse.
Fans were quick to call ABC out for choosing to cast someone with such a violent history.
Wait @ABCNetwork, is child abuser Adrian Peterson really going to be on Dancing with the Stars?? This is sick. Keep this piece of crap off my tv.
Wait @ABCNetwork, is child abuser Adrian Peterson really going to be on Dancing with the Stars?? This is sick. Keep this piece of crap off my tv. https://t.co/U6nwmCRA1v
— "Call JL5-2020…We Believe You!" (@angel_seb114) September 19, 2023
Some upset fans asked exactly what kind of dancing Peterson was going to do, and they asked it in such a way that their sarcasm and disappointment were clear.
Adrián Peterson is on dancing with the stars? Does he whip his partner with a stick?
Adrián Peterson is on dancing with the stars? Does he whip his partner with a stick?
— Sam Mines (@SMines57) September 17, 2023
Others were more forward with their anger, not only calling out ABC, but also imploring the judges to speak out.
WTF @officialdwts SHAME ON YOU !!!
This felon is a Star ?😒🤌🤬@derekhough @juliannehough Thoughts 🤨 ??
@BrunoTonioli@carrieanninaba
WTF @officialdwts SHAME ON YOU !!!
This felon is a Star ?😒🤌🤬@derekhough @juliannehough Thoughts 🤨 ??@BrunoTonioli @carrieanninaba #DWTS
Sharna Burgess slams Dancing With The Stars for hiring Adrian Peterson https://t.co/AZCBKvLD2L via @DailyMailCeleb— Lisa (@ldl727) September 16, 2023
Even former Dancing with the Stars professionals weighed in on the casting, including Sharna Burgess.
“There’s one person that I would love to share I’m really shocked is on there, which is Adrian Peterson, a football player… The man has been charged with child abuse of his 4-year-old son, in the way that he punishes him. That is just devastating for me.
I’m telling you now if I walked into a room and that was my partner, I would turn around and walk right back out. There is no way — now being a mother — I would be able to stomach that. But him aside, the rest of the cast looks incredible.”
Peterson's History of Violence
In 2013, Peterson was arrested for alleged abuse he inflicted on one of his young sons. By Peterson's own admission, he used a “switch”-like instrument to punish the 4-year-old. Images obtained by publications show slashes on the child's legs. He also allegedly whipped the toddler on the ankles, buttocks, and genitalia. Peterson pleaded no contest to reckless abuse of a child in order to avoid going to jail.
In 2018, Peterson admitted he was still using a belt to “discipline” his children. He has six children in total.
Then, in 2022, Peterson was arrested on domestic abuse charges committed against his wife while they were traveling. They reportedly got into an altercation on an airplane, and things got so bad that the pilot was forced to turn the plane around. Peterson's wife refused to press charges, saying that he had never hit her and their argument was only a verbal one.
Not the Only Backlash ABC is Getting
In addition to receiving a lot of backlash on its casting choices, ABC is also getting slammed for continuing with the show while both SAG and the WGA remain on strike. Dancing with the Stars will most likely not be violating the strikes in any way, but they are still being called out for the poor choice not to postpone the season. Many talk shows and game shows — which fall under different contracts — have postponed their seasons until the strikes are over. But ABC is pushing forward.
Unlike season 31, which aired live on Disney+, Dancing with the Stars season 32 will air live on ABC and will be available on Disney+ and Hulu the next day.
The complete season 32 cast is — Ariana Madix, Jamie Lynn Spears, Charity Lawson, Tyson Beckford, Alyson Hannigan, Matt Walsh, Mauricio Umansky, Xochitl Gomez, Mira Sorvino, Harry Jowsey, Barry Williams, Lele Pons, Jason Mraz, and Adrian Peterson
What do you think of Peterson's casting? Should ABC replace him? Let us know in the comments!
