One of the hosts of the US reality TV show 'Dancing With the Stars' has criticised the participation of Sean Spicer.
The former press secretary to US President Donald Trump is to be a contestant on the show next month.
The full cast was revealed by ABC on Wednesday.
Mr Spicer is most well known for his roles as the former White House press secretary and communications director under President Trump in 2017.
He resigned as press secretary in July that year.
He came under heavy scrutiny for his relationship with and approach to the press.
Tom Bergeron attending ABC's ''Dancing With The Stars'' season 23 finale in Los Angeles in 2016 | Image: Birdie Thompson/Zuma Press/PA ImagesTom Bergeron, one of the hosts of the US show, has hit out at the apparent politicisation of it.
He said: "A few months ago, during a lunch with DWTS' new executive producer, I offered sugestions for season 28.
"Chief among them was my hope that DWTS, in its return following an unprecedented year-long hiatus, would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably divisive bookings from any party affiliations.
"I left that lunch convinced we were in agreement".
Without naming Mr Spicer, he said a decision was made to "go in a different direction".
"It is the prerogative of the producers, in partnership with the network, to make whatever decisions they feel are in the best long-term interests of the franchise.
"We can agree to disagree, as we do now, but ultimately it's their call. I'll leave it to them to answer any further questions about those decisions."
He added that he takes his position on the show and the connection he feels with viewers "very seriously", adding that he hopes the show is "a two hour escape from whatever life hassles you've been wrestling with."
Some thoughts about today pic.twitter.com/aCQ4SHrGCI
— Tom Bergeron (@Tom_Bergeron) August 21, 2019
Criticism has also been levelled at the show on social media.
Sean Spicer joining Dancing with the Stars is proof that America loves giving people second and third chances… if they're white.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) August 21, 2019
ABC had more than enough time today to replace Sean Spicer. They chose not to. So now, #BoycottDWTS is about to trend. We won't let you normalize one of the biggest liars in the history of this country. No way. https://t.co/otmY9zD4vK
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 21, 2019
For 6 months, Sean Spicer served as White House Press Secretary to the most vile "president" in modern history. In that time, he repeatedly lied, obfuscated, and endorsed the badgering of a free press. He enabled hatred.
He belongs on a public blacklist, not in a waltz.#DWTS
— Charlotte Clymer?????? (@cmclymer) August 21, 2019
It's not enough that you spat in our faces with your horrific lies for six months, now you want to be patted on the head and given a show for it? Disgusting. Have the decency to disappear.
— Sam Sykes (@SamSykesSwears) August 21, 2019
Sean Spicer shouldn't get to be a celebrity pic.twitter.com/tAN2HTztvW
— iancanwrite (@iancanwrite) August 21, 2019
CNN reports there were also complaints internally as the show is constantly promoted by the ABC News division, especially on 'Good Morning America'.
Nine sources in and around ABC News spoke about their discomfort - with one staffer describing it as "a slap in the face to those of us who had to deal with his baloney and the consequences of the ongoing lies and disinformation campaign at the White House".
In an interview with Newstalk in 2018, Mr Spicer said he wished he could get a 'do-over' on his time at the White House.
He claimed the very first press conference he held, about the size of the crowds attending President Trump's inauguration, set the wrong tone for his interactions with the media.
"I admit upfront - that was not how I think we should have presented ourselves from the beginning on a number of fronts", he said.
