Ever since Tyra Banks became the host of Dancing with the Stars back in 2020, fans of the dance-competition series did not hesitate to jump to social media to share their disapproval of what they said to be unfiltered commentary and unpolished hosting skills.
After 28 seasons, DWTS replaced the show’s former hosts, Tom Bergeron (28 seasons) and Erin Andrews (10 seasons), with Banks. It wasn’t long before Banks’ hosting style quickly received backlash, and she offered plenty of ammunition: numerous mess-ups, inappropriate and too-personal questions for the contestants, ridiculous, undue outfit and costume changes and what is described as all-around unprofessional and awkward hosting skills.
For season 31 of DWTS, which just concluded, some changes were made. For one, Banks co-hosted the season with Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor and DWTS season 19 champion Alfonso Ribeiro. Another huge change was that for the first time in the show’s history, the program exclusively streamed live on Disney Plus! This meant there wasn’t time for Tyra’s outrageous outfit changes (even though she somehow still found time to change a few times).
Now that DWTS season 31 has wrapped, it’s time to discuss Banks’ most embarrassing and awkwardest moments this season!
- Shangela’s chicken leg
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During Michael Bublé Night of the competition, Drag Queen star Shangela took head judge Len Goodman’s constructive criticism from the week prior to heart and delivered “crispier legs” during her Tango, figuratively and literally. After her performance, Shangela served the judging panel her mother’s homemade crispy chicken legs– a treat she had tucked away in her ball gown’s bustier! Shangela gave an extra chicken leg to Banks, which she then proceeded to eat on live television. She confirmed it tasted good, then awkwardly passed it to the judges encouraging them to try it.
- “Papa” Len
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During Elvis Night, Banks forgot to let head judge Len Goodman give his input on Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater’s Rumba. Upon being corrected, Banks apologized, saying, “I got so excited I forgot about Papa. Papa, I’m sorry.” Before the night’s elimination, Banks addressed judge Derek Hough saying, “So if Len is Papa, then you are uncle or cousin or my brother.” Neither Goodman nor Hough enjoyed the name-calling.
- Trevor’s underwear
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During 90’s Night, Trevor and Emma once again fell into Banks’ shenanigans. After dancing a unique Barbie and Ken doll-inspired Salsa, part of Trevor’s outfit purposely revealed the top band of his underwear, which said “Trevor” on them. Banks was so infatuated with this, she felt the need to touch his underwear band unannounced. She then asked the judges, “Did you guys get a look at these underwear that say ‘Trevor?’”
- ‘overheated’ tyra
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That same evening, the shirts of male dancers were seemingly flying off! Following Gabby Windey and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy’s performance, Derek Hough playfully discarded his shirt to join the fun. Banks pretended to be so ‘overheated’ by this move that she ran in front of the judges, blocking them from viewers while they were giving the couple’s scores.
- Tyra’s awkward begging
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Moments after the Derek Hough shirt fiasco, Banks started begging people to take their shirts off. Her pleas ended with her begging her co-host Ribeiro to take off his shirt. After this already awkward comment, she stated, “I don’t even have what I used to have, y’all. It’s gone. It’s over. It was the 90s.”
To make matters worse, this wasn’t the first time she begged someone to take their shirt off. She did the same thing to television personality Wayne Brady during Elvis Night when he said he couldn’t wait to take off his hot leather suit. Yikes!
- Len & Tyra’s Awkward Interaction
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Staying on brand with Banks’ awkward comments, during Halloween Night of the competition, Banks and Goodman had a very awkward encounter after TikToker Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’ Argentine Tango. Banks said, “I heard the audience kind of make a sound when Len said that he was transported to a club in Argentina.” She then went on to mimic dance music playing. Goodman humbled Banks by saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” As the couple went up to the skybox, Banks ran over to the head judge and tried to explain the joke, which he amusingly dismissed, and she finally stopped!
- Tyra gets ‘Scared’
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Banks also loves an opportunity to be extra dramatic. On Halloween Night, DWTS pro Sasha Farber did his annual Halloween “scaring” and pranks on the contestants and other DWTS pros. During one of Banks’ monologues, he came up in front of her and Banks then proceeded to start screaming and dramatically pretended to be scared.
- Charli’s neck
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In another “weird and uncomfortable comment” moment, as Charli and Mark got their critiques from the judges on Elvis Night, Banks told Charli “I love your neck. You have the most beautiful neck in the world. I love it.” What does that even mean?
As we wait for the next season of DWTS to stream next fall, hopefully between now and then DWTS producers will finally listen to fans’ requests to replace Banks as host!