Bono Disses 'DWTS' Judges, ‘Becoming Chaz’ to Air on OWN
After being eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars,” Chaz Bono has commented on the show’s judges and confirmed a return to television with a one-hour special on OWN.
Bono and Lacey Schwimmer, his dancing partner, struggled through six performances on the show, and after receiving the lowest scores during Broadway Week, the duo was finally sent home on Tuesday.
Backstage after the announcement, Bono slammed “DWTS” Judge Bruno Tonioli for saying Bono resembled “a cute little penguin trying to be a big, menacing bird of prey” while performing the tango.
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Bono accused the judges of praising overweight female contestants for appearing on the show while criticizing overweight men. Bono also added that Tonioli’s comments made him feel like “some fat troll dancing with this beautiful woman every week.”
Cher took to Twitter and expressed her offense with Judge Bruno’s comments.
“Mean is not funny,” wrote Cher after retweeting, “@KnoewlAngel64: Bruno’s reason, pure selfishness! His only concern was 2b usual funny animated self, AT CHAZ’S EXPENSE!”
Bono underwent a female-to-male gender change after coming out as a lesbian in 1995. The star was introduced as a cast member on season 13 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” this summer, although, Bono was met with controversy.
Many viewers expressed disappointment and concern that a transgendered person would appear on the fmily-oriented television show. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, on the other hand, lauded Bono for “bravely putting on his dancing shoes.”
“’Being Chaz” will be a follow-up to the Emmy-nominated documentary on OWN, “Becoming Chaz.”
The one-hour special on Oprah Winfrey’s network will feature Bono’s transition from a woman to a man alongside girlfriend Jennifer Elia. The drama will also chronicle the decision and controversy surrounding his debut on “Dancing with the Stars.”
“Becoming Chaz” attracted an average of 705000 viewers during its May premiere on OWN.
“Being Chaz” airs Sunday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. on OWN.
