Dancing with the Stars 2014: Season 18 Contestants Announced, But Where's the Latino Representation?
Dancing with the Stars has announced their new line-up for Season 18, and while most assumed the show wouldn't include Venezuelan Bachelor Juan Pablo Galavis, some are wondering why there isn't any Latino representation at all this season.
Do all Latinos need to be shut out just because Galavis left a bad taste in ABC's mouth?
According to E! News, Galavis won't be starring on Dancing with the Stars because he is reportedly is "no longer wanted," due to the backlash that he received during the series for the way he treated the contestants as well as his controvesial response to the show having a gay Bachelor. He claimed that his use of the word "pervert" was a misshap due to his "language barrier."
Earlier reports indicated that while "ABC does not comment on casting rumors, however, insiders who work on the show" said that Galavis was "initially was under serious consideration for a spot as a contestant on DWTS' season 18."
"He's just too risky," says one source connected to the show. "There's too much negativity at this point."
In previous seasons, audiences were excited to see the Latin rhythms of hunky telenovela star William Levy, Extra host Mario Lopez, Army vet and former All My Children star J.R. Martinez, Brazilian race car driver Helio Castroneves, half-Mexian radio personality Mike Catherwood, and Chilean actor Christian de la Fuente, among others.
So who's on tap for DWTS Season 18?
Gold medalists fresh off of the ice at the Sochi Olympics, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, The Wonder Years star Danica McKellar, comedian-turned-game show host Drew Carey, swimming legend Diana Nyad, and acting great Billy Dee Williams, according to ABC.
DWTS is taking the audience down memory lane with Full House actress Candace Cameron Bure, Real Housewives reality star NeNe Leakes, Australian pop singer Cody Simpson, and Big Time Rush actor-singer James Maslow, are among the other celebrities who will battle it out for the prized mirrorball trophy.
For the first time in DWTS history, the show will welcome "double-amputee snowboarding champ Amy Purdy, who lost both of her legs as a teenager and pushed to become a world-champion adaptive snowboarder -- she will be the first Paralympian to compete." Sean Avery is the first former hockey player as well.
In other DWTS news, pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, "the bad boy of the ballroom" will return, but host Brooke Burke-Charvet will be replaced by sportscaster Erin Andrews.
Dancing with the Stars will premiere on March 17.
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