Michael Bolton, who was booted off “Dancing With the Stars” Tuesday night, is not leaving without a fight.
After the singer-songwriter’s “Hound Dog” routine was savagely torn apart by judge Bruno Tonioli, who called it “the worst jive in 11 seasons,” Bolton has demanded an apology.
“You heard the tone. Even Len [Goodman] stopped him and said, ‘That’s inappropriate,’ and I think he should apologize publically and be reprimanded for it,” Bolton, 57, told “Good Morning America.”
Monday night, Bruno lashed out at Bolton’s jive with professional partner Chelsie Hightower in which they used a dog house as a prop. He gave the couple the low score of three out of 10, putting him way behind his competitors.
“I am a dog lover, but you make it so hard for me. You should have taken your bone and gone back to the dog house,” Bruno said. “You did it all very, very, very badly.”
Bolton said he was “disappointed” by the judge’s harsh critique.
“To me, [Bruno] let everybody down. My mom was there, she flew in. She’s 90 and I thought she was going to really enjoy it, and I just didn’t expect that level of disrespect from him,” the Grammy-award winning singer said.
“Dancing With the Stars” producers said Tonioli shouldn’t have to apologize for doing his job.
“Bruno’s role as a judge is to give his honest opinions on the quality of the dances he’s judging, which is what he did in this case,” they said in a statement. “While we respect the feelings of our celebrities and dancers, we don’t feel Bruno should be expected to apologize for doing his job.”
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Bolton Calls ‘Hound Dog’ Dance ‘Hilarious’
Despite the low score, Bolton stood by the dance, calling it “hilarious.”
“I’d do the dog house thing again in a second,” he said. “It was me having fun with myself.”
He also praised Hightower for coaching him through the second week of competition.
“What can you do with someone who’s not a dancer?…Chelsie did everything she could, she was cracking the whip, getting down to the final hour, she knew exactly how much we had to learn,” he said.
Even though he got the ax, Bolton said has no regrets and wants to make dancing part of his life.
“I wouldn’t change the cast of characters. They’re wonderful dancers and competitors. The contestants, backstage you bond, you meet some amazing people, and that stays with you forever,” he said. “I wouldn’t change the fact that now I’m introducing dance into my life much more and I’m going to embrace that deeply. I’m very grateful to the show for that.”
Ten couples remain in the competition, including actress Jennifer Grey of “Dirty Dancing” fame; singer R&B/pop singer Brandy; comedian and actress Margaret Cho; former NBA champion Rick Fox; actress and author Florence Henderson; Kyle Orlando Massey, star of the hit Disney Channel program, “Cory in the House;” Bristol Palin, a teen abstinence activist and daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin; reality TV star Audrina Patridge; Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino of the reality TV show “The Jersey Shore,” and NFL Superbowl champion Kurt Warner.
Bolton, who actually had laryngitis during his performance Monday, will return to his worldwide concert tour, promoting his latest album, “One World One Love.”
