Alfonso Ribeiro Receives Backlash For Calling 'DWTS' Contestant By Wrong Name
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on October 5, 2022 at 2:20 PM EDT
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” actor Alfonso Ribeiro and “America’s Next Top Model” host Tyra Banks are currently co-hosting the new season of “Dancing with the Stars”.
Over the last few seasons, fans of the reality competition show were not happy with the way Tyra Banks hosted, so when the show announced Ribeiro would be joining Banks, they were relieved.
However, it seems Ribeiro is now facing backlash of his own as he cannot even get the contestants' names correct.
Alfonso Ribeiro Calls Shangela By The Wrong Name
Shangela Laquifa Wadley, commonly referred to as Shangela, is a professional drag queen and contestant from "RuPaul's Drag Race" who is currently competing on this season of "Dancing With the Stars."
During the second week of competition, host Alfonso Ribeiro spoke to Shangela following her performance, asking the star what it's like performing as the first male couple on the long-running competition series. Shangela was quick to call out Ribero for using the wrong terminology, furthering explaining what it meant to her to be a part of the show.
"Well, first of all, it’s male and Drag Diva, but yes, indeed," Shangela said laughing. "Honestly, you know what? To be anyone who gets to walk through a door, there’s a responsibility. Not only to walk through there fiercely but also to push it open for the others coming behind. And that’s what we’re hoping to do tonight."
Now, the "Dancing With the Stars" host is getting some heat once again after calling Shangela by the wrong name. In the TikTok video below, you can hear Ribeiro refer to the "RuPaul's Drag Race" star as "Angela," not "Shangela."
https://www.tiktok.com/@showtimechamaco/video/7150494060669586731?_t=8WFpd9vJed1&_r=1
Fans were quick to point out the mistake. One fan commented, "They better get miss Shangie’s NAME RIGHT!," while another wrote, "She should call him 'Alonzo'."
Another TikTok user commented on the video, "Please tell me he got corrected ?"
Ribeiro has not yet commented on the mistake.
“Dancing With the Stars” Season 31
Shangela and Gleb Savchenko are just one of the many couples currently competing on "Dancing With the Stars." The others are as follows:
- Joseph Baena with dance partner Daniella Karagach
- Selma Blair with dance partner Sasha Farber
- Wayne Brady with dance partner Witney Carson
- Sam Champion with dance partner Cheryl Burke
- Charli D’Amelio with dance partner Mark Ballas
- Heidi D’Amelio with dance partner Artem Chigvintsev
- Jessie James Decker with dance partner Alan Bersten
- Trevor Donovan with dance partner Emma Slater
- Daniel Durant with dance partner Britt Stewart
- Teresa Giudice with dance partner Pasha Pashkov (Eliminated)
- Vinny Guadagnino with dance partner Koko Iwasaki
- Cheryl Ladd with dance partner Louis van Amstel (Eliminated)
- Jason Lewis with dance partner Peta Murgatroyd (Eliminated)
- Jordin Sparks with dance partner Brandon Armstrong
- Gabby Windey with dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy
Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough have all returned as judges for this season.
The reality competition show recently moved from its home of ABC to Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, and airs every Monday night at 8 p.m. ET.
