Brian Austin Green shames “DWTS” for not inviting fiancée Sharna Burgess to Len Goodman tribute
They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned — but what about the partner of a woman scorned?
On Wednesday, Brian Austin Green shared a post on Instagram calling out Dancing With the Stars for failing to invite his fiancée Sharna Burgess back alongside other former pros to dance in the tribute to Len Goodman.
"I can't begin to tell you how [disappointed] I was for @sharnaburgess to not be invited for the tribute last night," he wrote. "It's disappointing as well that none of her 'family in the ballroom' stuck up for her or spoke out. She's an incredible soul and has always been a friend to everyone. She deserved better. #familystickstogether."
Green further called out the show for failing to invite Burgess to even be in the audience, as well as excluding another former pro, Cheryl Burke, from the dance. "She wasn't even invited to sit in the stands and watch," he added. "Shame on that group of people. Kindness is an action, and so is love. @cherylburke should have been there as well."
Burke previously announced on social media that she had not been invited to participate.
Current pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson choreographed a waltz to "Moon River," which took place in the midst of the "Most Memorable Year" episode on Tuesday night. Goodman served as the head judge on Dancing With the Stars since its inception, only absent from season 21 and season 29 prior to his retirement at the end of season 31. He died at the age of 78 on April 24.
getty (2) Sharna Burgess; Len Goodman
From the beginning of season 32, there has been plenty of emphasis on paying tribute to the judging stalwart. The show's top prize was rechristened the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy on the premiere. The number performed Tuesday marked a special homage from the pro dancers who knew Goodman long before they were on DWTS.
All of the current pro cast participated, as did a few returning pros, including Kym Herjavec, Anna Trebunskaya, Karina Smirnoff, Edyta Sliwinska, Tony Dovolani, Louis van Amstel, Maks Chmerkovskiy, and Mark Ballas.
However, Burke and Burgess were not the only pros that were not part of the number. Others, including Alec Mazo, Jonathan Roberts, Lacey Schwimmer, and Witney Carson, did not return.
ABC did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment.
Burgess addressed Green's remarks in her own post on Instagram stories, expressing her hurt as well as the reason for her own silence on the matter until Green spoke out. "My man has seen me be super upset (again) about the show I love," she wrote. "Last night was hard, and he listened to me while I shared my heart."
"I haven't made a single comment publicly about the tribute because of a few reasons," she continued. "Firstly, I know it's not about me. It's about Len and the honor he deserved. Secondly, this hurt more than not being asked back and I'm working through it. Thirdly, sharing feelings on here often gets met with a few negative people who believe I didn't deserve to be there anyway. So why open myself up to it."
"But my man that loves me deeply and has listened to me share and cry had enough and shared his frustration," Burgess noted. "He, like me, just didn't understand why. I love him for wanting to defend me even though he didn't need to. I would do the same no doubt. We fight hardest for those we love when we tend to just take whatever is thrown at us in our own life."
Burgess still had praise for the tribute itself, which featured judge and former pro Derek Hough kicking off the proceedings by grabbing a lone, spotlighted top hat and launching into the elegant waltz. The performance didn't leave a dry eye in the house as judges Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba hugged each other while sobbing into each other's arms.
"The tribute was stunning," Burgess concluded. "I cried watching. Tears of celebration and joy and gratitude for how much Len did for ballroom and for all of our careers. The performance was perfect and classic and technically brilliant. Val and Jenna created magic and Len absolutely would've loved it. Remember two things can be true — I can love and support the show. Feel joy for those who were there. And also feel sad about me not being there."
Burgess and Green already expressed shock and dismay at the beginning of the season when Burgess revealed on their podcast that she had not been invited back to the ballroom for season 32, despite telling producers that she was available and eager to return. She also alleged that producers did not notify her that she was not invited back, but that she found out from hearing from fellow dancers who had been offered a spot in the cast.
"Two things can be true," she explained. "I can love the show and be excited for everyone, but I can also be really sad and heartbroken that I don't get to do that this season, and I don't know if that means I'll never get to do it again."
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.
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