Former Dancing with the Stars champion Bobby Bones says he has returned his Mirrorball trophy to ABC, following pointed criticism from former host Tom Bergeron over his highly debated Season 27 win. Bones, whose legal name is Bobby Estell, posted a candid TikTok video on Wednesday explaining that he sent back the trophy because years of insults — both from fans and industry figures — had “taken all of the joy” out of what should have been a positive milestone.

“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. “I sent the trophy back to ABC. I no longer have the Mirrorball. I loved my time there.”

Bones, now 45, won the Season 27 title in 2018 with professional partner Sharna Burgess, defeating runner-up Milo Manheim in a finale that stunned viewers and became one of the most controversial outcomes in the show’s history. Entertainment Weekly later described the upset as “one of the most unexpected victories ever seen on the ballroom floor” (Entertainment Weekly).

Bergeron Calls Bones’ Win “Shocking”

Tom Bergeron, who hosted the hit series from 2005 to 2020, recently told Parade that Bones’ surprise win was the single most shocking moment of his tenure. “Bobby Bones,” he said bluntly, adding that Bones wasn’t expected to take the title and that the result highlighted long-running tension between judges’ scores and audience votes — an issue Bergeron has spoken about publicly before (Parade).

The longtime host compared Bones to the show’s current sentimental fan favorite, Andy Richter: “He’s charming and has such a big heart. Do I think he’s going to win? No. Do I think he’s bringing a quality to the show that epitomizes what the show is? Absolutely. But Bobby Bones was the first time it was like, ‘Ouch.’ No disrespect to Bobby.”

Bones admitted Bergeron’s comments hit harder than criticism from fans or online detractors. “It was hurtful. Not because of what was said, but who said it,” Bones said in the TikTok clip.

“Like a Sixth Grader Getting Shoved Into Lockers”

Bones also shared that hurtful remarks from Bergeron, co-host Julianne Hough, and others made him feel ostracized within the DWTS community. “I feel like a sixth grader and all the ninth-grade dancing kids are shoving me in lockers,” he said.

The radio host noted that he never sought out the competition show; ABC asked him to participate because he already held a contract with the network. Variety previously reported that ABC frequently leveraged crossover participation on DWTS to boost other network projects (Variety).

“They asked me to go on the show to promote [my show]. Am I supposed to not show up and work hard? Am I supposed to throw it and not win?” he asked. “Since I didn’t have any training as a kid, was I just supposed to roll over? I had a great attitude. I worked hard.”

Bones also revealed that he has been dealing with renewed criticism in recent months after admitting in September that he had exceeded the show’s allowed daily practice-limit during his season. People magazine noted that Bones’ fiercely competitive approach has long been a polarizing topic among fans (People).

The Growing Backlash — and Bergeron’s Apology

The Bobbycast host said that continuing insults from notable figures in the dance community “took away all the joy” from his otherwise positive experience on the show. He mentioned not only Bergeron and Hough but also unnamed colleagues who took “random shots” at him this week.

However, Bergeron reached out privately to clarify his remarks and apologize. “Bobby, it wasn’t my intention to hurt your feelings,” he wrote in a message shared by Bones. “My ‘ouch’ was based on my honest feeling that your win spoke to a need to address the balance between judge and viewer voting… I certainly regret pouring any salt in the wound.”

Bergeron’s departure from DWTS in 2020 followed public disagreements with ABC over casting decisions — most notably the inclusion of former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, a choice he openly criticized. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the network and Bergeron “mutually parted ways” shortly after the controversy (The Hollywood Reporter).

A Win That Still Divides Fans

Six years later, Bones’ victory remains one of the series’ most debated results. BBC Culture highlighted Bones’ season as an example of how viewer voting can occasionally overpower judges’ critiques, particularly when a contestant has a large national fan base — something Bones enjoyed thanks to his syndicated radio show (BBC).

Even after returning the trophy, Bones maintains gratitude for the experience, despite the emotional toll that followed. “It was such a great, joyous time,” he said. “But here we are, years later, and I’m still catching strays.”