Tyra Banks Revealed As New ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Host & Executive Producer

Tyra Banks will replace longtime Dancing With the Stars host Tom Bergeron, a Tuesday announcement revealed.

One day after Bergeron said that he had not been invited to return for season 29 of the show, ABC revealed Banks would be his replacement.

Just informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me. It’s been an incredible 15 year run and the most unexpected gift of my career. I’m grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made. That said, now what am I supposed to do with all of these glitter masks?

— Tom Bergeron (@Tom_Bergeron) July 13, 2020

In a joint statement from ABC and BBC studios, Banks said, “Tom has set a powerful stage. And I’m excited to continue the legacy and put on my executive producer and hosting hats.”

In the statement announcing Banks as the new host, Karey Burke, the network’s president, said, “Tyra is an award-winning multihyphenate whose fierce female prowess and influence across many industries have made an indelible mark.”

Banks said in her own statement, “I will do my best to honor its [the show’s] legacy while also injecting new ideas to reach new generations of audiences.”

The network also parted ways with Erin Andrews, who had co-hosted the show for six years. Bergeron had been on the show for 15. The network cited a desire to take the show in a new direction after having several seasons of low ratings.

Banks, a former supermodel and businesswoman, doesn’t come without controversy, however. In May, she apologized for past comments she made to a contestant on America’s Next Top Model in 2006.

“So Danielle, you went to the dentist but you refused to have your gap closed,” Banks told contestant Dani Evans, a black woman, during the show. “Do you really think you can have a CoverGirl contract with a gap in your mouth?” Banks went on to say her tooth gap was “not marketable” even though Evans went on to win that season of the show. 

In a later season, Cycle 15, Banks told a white contestant, Chelsey Hersley, to have her tooth gap widened to make her look “more edgy.”