Radio personality Bobby Bones said he wants his "Dancing with the Stars" Mirrorball Trophy returned after ending a feud with former host Tom Bergeron.
The request marks the conclusion of a years-long dispute between the winner and the host over offensive comments that led Bones to surrender his award.
Bones won the trophy during Season 27 [2] of the competition in 2018 [1]. Following the victory, the two became embroiled in a conflict triggered by remarks made by Bergeron. In a gesture of protest against those comments, Bones mailed the trophy back to Bergeron.
After reconciling and forgiving the former host, Bones expressed regret over the decision. "I regret mailing back my Mirrorball Trophy that I won for Season 27 of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2018," Bones said.
Bergeron acknowledged the resolution of the conflict and the healing of their professional relationship. "I’m glad we were able to clear the air and move forward," Bergeron said.
The Mirrorball Trophy is the highest honor in the U.S. version of the dance competition. While the two have now moved past their disagreement, the physical return of the award remains the final step in resolving the 2018 incident.
“"I regret mailing back my Mirrorball Trophy"”
This resolution highlights the volatile intersection of reality competition fandom and professional relationships. The return of the trophy symbolizes a formal end to a public grievance that spanned several years, transitioning the narrative from one of conflict to professional reconciliation.
