More pushback for ABC and Disney+’s, upcoming season premiere of Dancing with the Stars.  Now comes word that ABC may delay its scheduled season 32 debut episode.

After the show was picketed by WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. one of the show’s celebrity contestants is ‘pausing’ his involvement with competing on the show, and that would be Veep star Matt Walsh.

In a statement, Walsh revealed, “I was excited to join the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement.  This morning when I was informed by my union, the WGA, that it is considered struck work I walked out of my rehearsal. I have been and will always stand with my union members of the WGA, SAG and DGA.”

Walsh added, “Beyond our union artists, I am sensitive to the many people impacted by the strike and I hope for a speedy and fair resolution, and to one day work again with all the wonderful people I met at DWTS who tolerated my dancing.”

As previously reported, DWTS falls under SAG-AFTRA’s Network Code contract, which covers talk, variety shows and soap operas and is at play through June 2024. Thus, celebrities taking part in the show, are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules.

Meanwhile, though an unscripted reality series, Dancing With the Stars is a signatory to the Writers Guild’s minimum basic agreement. DWTS in the the past has employed a WGA writer among its staff of reportedly, 500.  However, given the harsh blowback of participants crossing WGA lines, ABC is now strongly considering delaying its September 26th season premiere of the ballroom dancing/competition series.

So, what do you think of Matt Walsh’s suspending involvement on DWTS? Should the show also pause its premiere till resolution of the WGA strike, at least? The WGA and AMPTP are set to continue talks today on Thursday to hopefully move towards an agreement to end the strike.

The upcoming 32nd season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars is already marred in controversy. First, even though calls from the Writers Guild of America to push back its premiere during the ongoing writer’s strike, both the network and streamer, Disney+ are still moving forward with their planned season premiere next week on September 28th with its two-hour debut.

DWTS has one WGA staff writer, and according to a source through Variety, “the show will be working in compliance with SAG-AFTRA rules, and a key focus is not to put talent in a tough spot, given that many Season 32 cast members are part of the actors’ guild. Another major key consideration was ensuring that the large staff would not be out of work.”   The ballroom-dance competition series employs around 500 people.

The dance program falls under the same agreement as the soap operas under the Network Code agreement that isn’t a part of the current strike.

Photo: JPI

Cheryl Burke, former DWTS pro dancer and Mirror Ball champion, feels DWTS should remain on hiatus till the writers and actors strike are resolved. Burke told Variety, “I think they should hold tight. I think we need to stand as one. We need to unite for real and not just say we’re united.”

Meanwhile another controversy has emerged with the selection of NFL running back, Adrian Peterson, to appear on the show as one of the celebrity contestants. DWTS pro, Shayna Burgess said she was shocked to find out Peterson was allowed to appear on the program. “The man has been charged with child abuse of his 4-year-old son, in the way that he punishes him. That is just devastating for me.”

Burgess is referencing a September 2014 case, where Peterson was indicted by a grand jury on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child, after he had used a wooden implement to discipline his 4-year-old son. He pleaded no contest and avoided jail time by agreeing to a plea deal. Then, in 2018, Peterson admitted he still disciplined his son with a belt.

Photo: ABC

Now, Burke weighed-in on the Peterson situation, expressing:  “We’ve had a lot of controversial characters on the show. I think I danced with Ray Lewis — that was a bit controversial. When it comes to abuse, I do agree with Sharna.  However, you sign up to be a part of the show. And honestly, as a pro dancer, whoever walks in through that door, you don’t turn around and walk out. You’re signing up for this. It’s not like you can request, but if you say certain things that you’re triggered by, you would hope that that wouldn’t happen.”

On the new season of Dancing with the Stars, Peterson will be paired with pro dancer, Britt Stewart.

So, are you looking forward to the new season of DWTS? Should they postpone their season premiere due to the strikes even though they are under the NetCode agreement which is different than the contract the writers and actors are doing battle with the AMPTP over? What do you think of the selection of Adrian Peterson to appear on the show? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Wednesday on Good Morning America, the full cast list and pro dancers who will be participating in the upcoming 32nd season of Dancing with the Stars was revealed for the first time.

Previously, The Bachelorette’s Charity Lawson, reality star, Ariana Madix and Britney Spears sister, actress Jamie Lynn Spears, were announced as part of the new season.

Those joining this trio to compete for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy include: ‘Brady Bunch’ star, Barry Williams, pop singer/songwriter, Jason Mraz, former NFL star running back, Adrian Peterson, model Tyson Beckford, Marvel’s Xohcitl Gomez, plus controversial Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, Mauricio Umansky, and more.

Before the news was announced live on GMA, the DWTS judges, pro dancers and hosts performed a dance number. Next, the cast of season 32 joined everyone on the GMA stage to celebrate the kick off to the season.

Dancing with the Stars will air Tuesday nights and premiere on September 26th at 8 pm EST.  The show will return to ABC and be back on network television. In addition, the ballroom competition series will be available to stream on Disney+ concurrently.

The full celebrity cast and their pro partners are below:

Supermodel Tyson Beckford with partner Jenna Johnson

Marvel star Xochitl Gomez with partner Val Chmerkovskiy

How I Met Your Mother star Alyson Hannigan with partner Sasha Farber

Reality TV star Harry Jowsey (“Too Hot to Handle”) with partner Rylee Arnold

Singer Jason Mraz with partner Daniella Karagach

NFL running back Adrian Peterson with partner Britt Stewart

YouTuber Lele Pons with partner Brandon Armstrong

Actress Mira Sorvino with partner Gleb Savchenko

Actress Jamie Lynn Spears with partner Alan Bersten

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Mauricio Umansky with partner Emma Slater

Veep star Matt Walsh with partner Koko Iwasaki

The Brady Bunch star Barry Williams with partner Peta Murgatroyd

The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson with partner Artem Chigvintsev

Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix with partner Pasha Pashkov

So, when looking at the line-up, who do you think has the best chance on paper of winning this season’s Mirror Ball Trophy? Weigh-in below.