This week's edition of DWTS went out last night (1am GMT). Someone who stayed up to watch on a webcam has posted this comment on the DWTS spoiler thread:


There's no further explanation.

What Len said was:

"Just because you come from Brazil doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be good at the Samba. In the same way, just because you come from Texas doesn’t mean to say you’re going to be a good President."

Quote from Reality TV magazine:

"On the official Dancing with the Stars message board, the hottest topic of discussion has nothing to do with who was the best or worst dancer during the top six couples performance show. No, the big debate among Dancing with the Stars fans revolves around a comment made by one of the Dancing with the Stars judges."

More here:
http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blo...g-with--1.html

I bet that gets edited out of Friday's airing on UK Gold.

I'm no fan of the US president (quite the contrary) but it highlights the depths that we have sunk to here with attacks on personalities. Len has been riding for a fall.

Oh Len! I did laugh though

hahah good on ya Len

Americans always take the mick out of the qieen and Tony Blair so why is this any different???

Bush is a noob anyway good on Len!

Stinks of being another one of those ever-so-rehearsed off the cuff quips.

I don't think so at all - the producers would never tell Len to say that. America gets incredibly PC and offended by comments like that and previous people have had even apparently made their careers in jeopardy through similar statements. I'm sure he'll be forced to apologise tonight.

It was so obviously a joke though and Len said as much, I think the reaction on the forums is completely over the top. Some of the messages are hilarious, yet meant to be totally serious and many have said they now refuse to watch the show on principle. There could be quite a backlash!

I mean scripted by Len himself, the way Arlene scripts her "quips" here. I know the producers wouldn't allow it.

Oh I see - sorry, I misinterpreted you!

(Some) Americans need to get over themselves; any bloke who has as has much power as Dubya is a fair target. Remember those slaves who used to stand behind Roman emperors in their chariots during state occasions whispering "This too will pass"? Anyone who takes it upon themselves to lead others needs the p*ss taking out of them. Sadly Dubya makes it so easy.

Haha! Fab joke!

If you actually read any of the US forums you'll see that the vast majority were actually quite amused by Len's comment.

But there is vast amounts of discussion about Bush, Iraq, 911, budget deficit etc. Len has just opened up a new opportunity for the US to discuss their president and most of it does not make pretty reading.

Actually Len's comment seems to have been completely misunderstood. "Just because you come from Brazil doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be good at the Samba" - he went on to praise Helio's Samba and scored him a 9. So how can you conclude he was being disrespectful of the president??

There seem to be a lot of very sensitive souls on the other side of the pond!

Also depends how it was said, like any joke. I'm fond of Len but I do think all this flying is telling on him. He was getting very rude and shouty on our show and at one point Arlene or Craig were saying something, can't remember what, and he kept talking over them and pulling such a ridiculous, contemptuous face - really out of line attitude to someone you're working with. If he's being like that on the US show as well, maybe this was just an excuse for a lot of people to vent their frustration at him.

I was on the official ABC forum until about 4am and although there were a lot of people amused by the comment, an awful lot weren't. There were countless "How dare he disrespect our president", "Go back to England", "Len is ignorant", "I'm done with DWTS" etc etc threads.

It was so obviously just a joke though! He was laughing whilst he said it and said it was just a joke about 3 times.

tee hee good old Len.

He didn't say anything factually incorrect, so they should shut up and move on.

Sometimes, America really, really scares me.

Don't understand what there complaining about.

It's not as if American comedians don't spend their time having a go at Bush, and they certainly had a go at Blair and the Queen.
Also its pretty accurate too.

Go Len. I've heard much worse jokes about Dubya so Len's joke is mild compared to some I've heard and read.

I like Len, was brought up near where he was born.

I've known Len a long time, and believe me, he is the master at opening his mouth and putting his foot in it!!!! He rarely means anything by it, and sometimes gets quite upset when he later realises some people take him seriously..... He is probably also getting very tired with all the jet-lagging twice a week, and it's a case of "speak first, think later". No doubt the Americans will get over it soon enough!

Meh Americans are so precious. Maybe it was out of place but it was clearly meant in jest. In the UK we wouldn't give a toss if someone slagged our PM.

If you read some of the comments they are making worse comments about Len and England. Lens was a joke but the US forumers are spiteful

Maybe we should send him over the selected highlights of the Dead Ringers sketches about George W. That'd really give them something to whinge about.