'ABC Attacked by 'DWTS' Fans Over Chaz Bono Casting'

ABC Attacked by 'DWTS' Fans Over Chaz Bono Casting
Published: August 30, 2011 @ 2:07 pm



"Dancing With the Stars" aims for provocative casts, and Chaz Bono joining the show this week has already yielded strong reaction -- some of it ugly.

Bono, the only child of Sonny Bono and Cher, was born female but legally changed his gender and name last year. The announcement Monday that he would join the highly rated ABC dance competition immediately made him one of the highest-profile transgendered people in the world.

It also brought to the surface prejudices about Bono and others who have changed their gender, judging from the "Dancing With the Stars" message board. In hundreds of comments, Bono was the most common subject.

"HUGE HUGE fan of this show since season two and eagerly await each season to get my dancing/entertainment 'fix'!! But when I heard that Chaz Bono was going to be on, I was sick. Not that I have anything personally again her/him, I just don't want that lifestyle choice continually flaunted in the media esp ABC," went one typical anti-Bono comment.

Many also questioned, before Bono was paired Wednesday with Lacey Schwimmer, whether his partner would be a man or woman. But for everyone who vented disgust, there were many who defended Bono and accused his critics of bigotry.

Bono's casting is only the latest to make a lighthearted reality show the impetus for deeper discussions about values, tolerance, bigotry and politics. Gay "American Idol" contestants have opted not to announce their sexuality, perhaps out of concerns about alienating intolerant viewers. And Bristol Palin's "Dancing" casting two seasons ago seemed to have influenced voters with opinions on her mother's politics.

If Americans quickly vote Bono off the show -- or keep him on despite a middling performance, as they did with Palin -- it could reveal plenty about attitudes toward transgendered people.

An ABC spokesman said Bono, 42, was in rehearsals for the show and unavailable to comment. The network, meanwhile, had no comment Tuesday on the comments posted by "Dancing" fans on its message board.

Among the other comments:

"Chaz Bono How low can this show sink. Well you have certainly addressed the gay commuity. Guess this will not be a family show any longer!!!! Lost my family!"

"YOUR choice to bring Chaz Bono into the mix goes too far. I am not about to risk the potential for on screen dialogue about sex changes and gender confusion while my 7 and 9 year old are watching. If you want the 'anything goes' hippy culture, then soon that is all you will get. You've lost us. In case any of you are wondering ... no, we are NOT tolerant. We are not tolerant to allow any and all influences to come unfiltered into our home and especially to our children.

Nystyle709 wrote:I actually want to see her dance.

cheaps wrote:

See him dance..

Nystyle709 wrote:

She's still a woman. But I won't get into that.

cheaps wrote:

Nystyle709 wrote:


Or should I say, technically, he's still a woman.

Tony Marino wrote:Why can't people just shut up and leave things be. I want to see him dance too, I won't be watching the show just the first episode. I wonder if Cher will be in the audience?

Wadsworth wrote: Whole thing is shock value & a stunt for ratings.