'DWTS' Chaz Bono: 'Animal comparisons don't help me grow as dancer'
Published Oct 26 2011, 13:00 BST | By Lara Martin
Warning: This article contains spoilers that some readers may prefer to avoid. Please click here if you wish to continue.
Chaz Bono has said that some of the critiques of his performances on Dancing with the Stars were not useful in helping him grow as a dancer. The activist and professional partner Lacey Schwimmer were eliminated from the ABC competition on Tuesday night following their tango performance on Monday which earned them 19 out of a possible 30 points.
Bono had earlier admitted that he was hurt by judge Bruno Tonioli's critique of the dance where he was described as "like... a cute penguin trying to be a big, menacing bird of prey".
© ABC
Appearing alongside Schwimmer on Jimmy Kimmel Live for the traditional post-exit interview, Bono revealed that he and Schwimmer had been "a little p*ssed" following their performance.
Schwimmer said that it was unfair to call Bono "every round animal out there", while he added: "That was the first thing and we also think we did a good job, we thought we did a good dance."
Bono, who admitted that he never thought he could win the competition, went on to say: "I don't have a problem being on that show and being critiqued about my dancing. I was hoping for that because that's how you learn and get better, but being compared to animals or round objects didn't help me grow as dancer."
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When asked by Kimmel if he planned on "getting revenge" on Tonioli, Bono laughed off the suggestion, although Schwimmer joked: "I can't say that right now because then I'll give it away!"
As for his plans for the future, he said: "I'm going to take a little break and buy Lacey a big present!"
Bono's mum Cher has also voiced her annoyance at some of the comments from Tonioli and fellow judge Len Goodman, writing on Twitter following the result that she needed to "hold her temper".
"I Have Got 2Hold my TEMPER ! MY Tears R OK ! Congratulations Chaz I'm SO PROUD OF U ! This was YOUR Quest...& u Followed your Star. (sic)"
Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays and Tuesdays on ABC.
Watch more of Chaz Bono on Jimmy Kimmel Live below:
JoAnn Holland I never stated (and I don't believe) that the LGBTQ community made up mainstream America - you're missing my point.
I don't doubt that the cameras were "all over the celebs" - do you really think that Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and a girlfriend who works out of the industry would really be clamouring for that kind of attention? They are better than that. And, besides, just because you didn't see them doesn't mean that they weren't there. Cher isn't most parents! That's the whole point!! If she was there every single night it would have completely taken the spotlight away from Chaz and really hindered his efforts to prove that there is more to him than being 'just' Cher's child. She bowed to pressure to attend the taping and the media went nuts. No wonder she didn't go again!
You're right: you are entitled to your opinion - I just don't think it is fair to peddle those opinions as harmful facts - there is a very clear difference. I won't withdraw my own opinion of you, as - like you - I am entitled to it. However, I will apologise for putting it on such a public forum as this - I should have kept it to myself and so I am sorry for publicising it.
October 26th 2011 at 7:03pm
Emma Jane Walduck Sure, the gay lesbian transgender world supported Chastity being on the show, but do you really think they are main-stream America?? If so, you are sadly mistaken. The DWTS cameras were all over the celebs in the audience every night; don't you think they would have shown Mary Bono at least once if she would have been there?? And ditto for the girlfriend. As far as Cher goes, most parents make it to the shows often to support their child. Cher came once, after practically being begged to show up! With all the remarks and
non-support Chastity was getting, you would think Cher would have been there as much as possible. And writing her "praise" on the internet is not a good substitute; it was probably some secretary or PR person writing it anyway.
Bottom line, you believe what you believe and I will do the same. Just because I do not agree with you or Chastity does not make me an uneducated bigot or a hater. I am entitled to my own opinion and beliefs the same as you are.
October 26th 2011 at 6:36pm
JoAnn Holland You're wrong. Mainstream Americans DO support Chaz - it's those who enjoy Tea Parties who don't, if you catch my drift. You are preaching hate - and that is what I take exception to.
If you read my previous post properly, you will see that I wrote: " I believe in God and I believe that He puts us on these paths for a reason." - I am not suggesting that God made a mistake in putting Chaz on this earth in a female body. I am saying that transitioning from female to male was simply the path that Chaz was meant to be on.
The 'agenda' as you so eloquently put it was not to "exploit [HIS] immoral lifestyle" - it was to show America that everybody has a different history, and that's okay. It was to show the world that you can overcome really difficult periods in your life and still come out smiling with a spring in your step.
The supportive girlfriend, Jennifer, WAS in the audience on a number of occasions, as was his step-mother. Perhaps Cher only came the one time so that the focus could remain on Chaz and his dancing (it was, after all, a dancing show) and not be put onto his mother? Just a thought. Surely, as a parent, you want your children to shine and would never dream of taking away their light? If you read the Cher's Twitter feed you will see that she has nothing but love and support for her son. When not at the actual taping, she was watching on the TV - along with mainstream Americans (who voted to keep him in for a long time, might I add) - sharing her praise with the world via the Internet.
I have said my piece. You are welcome to come back at me with more of your hate and prejudice - I relish the opportunity to have such discussions, I really do.
October 26th 2011 at 5:04pm
Emma Jane Walduck - God put Chastity on this earth as a female. By declaring she was really a he was like saying God made a mistake. I do not agree with that! What REALLY irritated me about this whole thing though was when she chose to exploit her immoral lifestyle and openly discuss her agenda on a DANCE show on nationwide television. That totally was not the right place to handle that agenda! As far as a supportive girlfriend, was she ever in the audience? Chastity's step-mother never showed up, and Cher was only in the audience ONCE while she was on DWTS (and didn't look real happy to be there either). So not much family support there! There must be a lot of "Uneducated Bigots" as you called me because main stream Americans DO NOT accept Chastity's lifestyle or agenda.
October 26th 2011 at 4:48pm
So speaks an uneducated bigot. I truly hope and pray that a child/grandchild/family member of yours doesn't turn to you when they are struggling to accept themselves for who they are.
Are you not bothered about the hundreds of LGBTQ kids who are killing themselves because of attitudes like yours?
You may well think that Chaz being transgender is immoral - I happen to believe that it is immoral to condemn a person for simply being the person they were supposed to be. I believe in God and I believe that He puts us on these paths for a reason.
Chaz has hope - HE has a supportive girlfriend, a good family who are LEARNING to accept the steps HE has taken and HE has an important message to spread: it is okay to be who you are.
I doubt very much that there is the same hope for you.
Please, leave your hate-filled comments inside your head, away from the eyes of vulnerable kids who look up to guys like Chaz.
October 26th 2011 at 3:52pm