After catching heat forhis responsetoSean Spicer‘s casting onDancing with the Stars, Karamo Brown is taking a step back from social media.
Brown and Spicer (President Donald Trump‘s controversial former press secretary) will both be competing on the upcoming season 28 of the ABC series.
Spicer’s inclusion in the cast has sparked outrage amongst fans, considering the political aide was widely disparaged after he used the White House press podium to lie to and attack journalists during his tenure. He resigned in 2017.
Brown, 38, was criticized onlinefor saying he was looking forwardto having “respectful conversations” with Spicer.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images; Shannon Finney/Getty Images
“First, I have no say who is on the cast and didn’t find out till this morning that he is on!” Brown tweeted on Wednesday in response to a fan who said they were “disappointed” in Brown for “lending his celebrity to this.”
“But I’ll tell you this… I’m excited to sit down w/ him and engage in respectful conversations,” he continued. “Only way things get better is if we try to educate those who have different POV than us.”
Later in the day, another Twitter user slammed Brown for calling Spicer “a good guy” and “a really sweet guy” in an interview withAccess Hollywood.
“I honestly can’t stand people like you who post things like this and you reposted some bs about a comment Jonathan [Van Ness] said… just to flame the fire and get a reaction,” he tweeted, referencing a comment hisQueer Eyecostar previously made about Mitt Romney.
“We fight harder than your a– ever has for people of color and members of the LGBTQIA community,” Brown added.
One person who did come out swinging against Spicer?Tom Bergeron, who hosts the show withErin Andrews.He tweeted that he had hoped this season “would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free of inevitably decisive booking from ANY political affiliations.”
“Subsequently (and rather obviously), a decision was made to, as we often say in Hollywood, ‘go in a different direction,'” he continued, noting that he and the producers “agree to disagree” over the decision.
In response to the criticism, Spicer has said he’s “going out and having some fun.”
“I’m going to enjoy myself, and if more people like me, then that’s great,” hetold Mediaite on Wednesday. “I’m very happy with who I am. I’m very happy with the friends that I have.”
“The idea that I need this to make myself feel better is preposterous,” he said. “I’m in this because I enjoy it. I’m very comfortable with who I am, what I believe and who I support, and that’s it.”
The cast also includes The Supremes’ Mary Wilson,The Bachelorette‘sHannah Brown, supermodelChristie Brinkley, country starLauren Alaina, actorJames Van Der Beek, NFL legend Ray Lewis,The Officestar Kate Flannery, pop starAlly Brooke, former basketball playerLamar Odomand comedian/actorKel Mitchell.
Season 28 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Sept. 16 on ABC.
source: people.com
