DWTS host Tom Bergeron APOLOGIZES to viewers after ex-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer joins the cast - hours after welcoming him - saying the show is supposed to provide 'joyful respite from our political climate' (16 Pics)

Dancing With The Stars host Tom Bergeron has issued a public apology expressing his disappointment with the show after it announced Sean Spicer was joining the new season's line-up of celebrity contestants. 

On Wednesday the former White House Press Secretary, who has been accused of repeatedly lying for Trump, was announced as a part of star-studded cast, sparking furious backlash online that the show was supporting Trump's administration. 

Bergeron took to Twitter to reveal he doesn't agree with the casting decision and actually met with producers to request that political figures be excluded from the 28th season's lineup, saying that the point of the show is to offer 'joyful respite from our exhausting political climate'. 

'I offered suggestions for Season 28. Chief among them was my hope that DWTS, in its return following an unprecedented year-long hiatus, would be a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate and free from inevitably divisive bookings from ANY party affiliations,' the 64-year-old tweeted Wednesday. 

DWTS host Tom Bergeron has expressed his disappointment over the show casting former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer as a part of the cast for its 28th season

Bergeron shared this statement on Twitter saying he met with producers to request political figures be excluded from the DWTS cast because the show should be 'a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate'

He added: 'I left that lunch convinced we were in agreement. Subsequently (and rather obviously) a decision was made to, as we often say in Hollywood, "go in a different direction".

'It is the prerogative of the producers, in partnership with the network to make whatever decisions they feel are in the best long term interests of the franchise. We can agree to disagree, as we do now, but ultimately it’s their call. I’ll leave it to them to answer any further questions about those decision.' 

Spicer was unveiled as a part of the new cast on Wednesday as it was revealed he could cash in a whopping $295,000 for his fancy footwork. 

The 47-year-old appeared on Good Morning America on Wednesday as a part of the season 28 cast reveal where he beamed with pride.   

Spicer has been laying low since resigning from his role as Press Secretary in July 2017, where he earned a reported $180,000. On the show he'll make at least $125,000 which could balloon to $295,000 if he makes it far in the competition, according to Variety.

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Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer appeared on GMA Wednesday morning but the announcement he was appearing on Dancing With The Stars Season 28 was met with criticism

DWTS host Tom Bergeron spoke on radio about his opposition to any politically affiliated  contestants, and sniped on GMA: 'The nice thing is Sean will be in charge of assessing audience size'

Spicer revealed he was taking part in the competition with a podium announcement in honor of his former White House role. Spicer could earn $295,000 from his moves compared to the reported $180,000 salary working for Trump

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Spicer will appear on the show with Lamar Odom, James Van der Beek, Karamo Brown, and more celebrities but it's unknown which professional dancer he'll be paired with

Despite the public outrage, Spicer had been invited to join DWTS two years ago in August following his resignation. TMZ reported that he rejected the offer at the time because he was too busy.   

It's unclear what Bergeron's input may have been in regards to bookings in 2017, but he continued in Wednesday's statement that he hopes people will still watch the show. 

'For me, as host, I always gaze into the camera’s lens and imagine you on the other side, looking for a two hour escape from whatever life hassle you’ve been wrestling with,' Bergeron said. 'That’s a connection, and a responsibility, which I take very seriously, even if I occasionally season it with dad jokes.

'Hopefully when Erin Andrews and I look into those lenses again on September 16, you’ll be on the other side looking back, able to enjoy the charismatic pro dancers, the unpredictable judges and the kitschy charm that has defined DWTS since 2005.' 

The casting was met with bitter backlash online, leading Jon Cooper, the Chairman of the Democratic Coalition, to slam the show as 'Dancing to Facism', adding 'screw you for normalizing Sean Spicer.'

Comedian Dana Goldberg joked: 'Will he just be dancing around the truth?'   

Comedian Dana Goldberg joked: 'Will he just be dancing around the truth?'

Man social media users said they would boycott DWTS after the casting of Spicer 

Chairman of the Democratic Coalition, Jon Cooper, called DWTS 'Dancing to Facism' 

Queer Eye's Karamo responded to a fan who was disappointed with his participation based on Spicer's casting: 'I’m excited to sit down w/ him and engage in a respectful conversations. Only way things get better is if we try to educate those who have different POV than us'

Spicer has come under fire for his political career, best known for lying about the crowd size at Trump's inauguration, boasting that it was larger than President Obama's. 

On GMA, Bergeron didn't let Spicer forget his time on President Trump's team as he joked: 'The nice thing is Sean will be in charge of assessing audience size.'

Spicer had claimed about Trump's inauguration: 'This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period.'

Following the announcement angry critics inundated Twitter over the casting decision. 

Twitter users posted that Spicer 'lied to the public for months' and many said it was time to boycott the show. 

One social media user echoed many others who said: 'Spicer was the official Voice of Evil. Now Hollywood is normalizing him.'

On GMA, Spicer had more jabs directed at him after American Idol runner up Lauren Alaina admitted having an initial moment where she thought actress Kate Flannery's face was familiar but couldn't quite place it.

Co-host, Amy Robach, joked: 'I had that same moment with Sean Spicer.' 

Spicer hit back, laughing: 'You need a life. You need to get out more.'   

Bergeron expanded in a SiriusXM radio interview when asked if he thinks voting will go along partisan lines with Spicer on the DWTS.

He replied: 'I honestly have no idea, my preference, it’s not my call, other people book the show, would have been to avoid any political lightning rods.

'Dancing at its best is an oasis away from all its divisiveness and all of the stuff we’re all wrestling right now. That was a call they made.'

He added that while he won't be bringing up how he feels when the contest airs, he had no problem talking about it when he's not in the television studio. 

'My job as a host is to be Switzerland for two hours a week. For the other 166 hours a week, I’m pretty clear on my standpoint,' Bergeron added.

'Who's regretting joining the show already?': The contestants raise their hand to Bergeron

Amy Robach joked she thought Spicer had a familiar face but she couldn't quite place it as he took several snipes on GMA

Spicer will appear on Dancing With The Stars when it returns for Season 28 on September 16 

As the 28th season – which premieres September 16 – was announced, Spicer explained that while his mother-in-law possesses some good skills when it comes to dancing, he sadly does not.

Spice shared: 'I was kicked out of band in sixth grade and the quote was, "You have the sense of beat of a steamroller",' Spicer recalled.

He added that his winning strategy will be to 'work really, really, really hard every day'.

Spicer added in a tweet: 'It’s time to have some fun. Excited to join a great cast and show.' 

But public reaction showed viewers were not happy with Spicer joining alongside the likes of Christie Brinkley, Lamar Odom, Hannah Brown, Karamo Brown, James Van Der Beek, Kel Mitchell, Ally Brooke, Ray Lewis and Mary Wilson.

Queer Eye's Karamo responded to a fan who was disappointed with his participation based on Spicer's casting: 'First, I have no say who is on the cast and didn’t find out till this morning that he is on! But I’ll tell you this... I’m excited to sit down w/ him and engage in a respectful conversations. Only way things get better is if we try to educate those who have different POV than us.' 

Fans won't find out who Spicer and the other bookings are dancing with each week, until the season premieres.

Returning this season is Australian Latin dancer Peta Murgatroyd. 

The other professional dancers in the cast this season are Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Cheryl Burke, Emma Slater, Gleb Savchenko, Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy, Keo Motsepe, Lindsay Arnold, Sasha Farber, Val Chmerkovskiy and Witney Carson, as well as newbies Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov.

Last month President Trump said he intended to nominate Spicer to serve on the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy. Board members review the state of morale and discipline at the Naval Academy and its curriculum and fiscal affairs. 

Spicer would serve the remainder of a three-year term that expires December 30, 2021. He tweeted: 'Thanks @realdonaldtrump for the honor to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors to the US @NavalAcademy.'