Sean ‘Even-Hitler-Didn’t-Gas-His-People’ Spicer To Cha-Cha On ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer will perform on 'Dancing With The Stars'

Sean Spicer, the former White House Press Secretary, will perform on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Image by Getty Images

By Jenny Singer August 21, 2019

Samba! Jive! Tango! Diminishing the murder of millions in the Holocaust!

Former Press Secretary Sean Spicer has signed on to show off his moves on an upcoming season of “Dancing With The Stars” on ABC.

Spicer, who served as communications director of the Republican National Committee prior to assuming his post in the Trump administration, will appear on the 28th season of the popular reality TV show that pairs C-list stars with professional dancers. Other high-profile cast members will include “Queer Eye” star Karamo Brown, supermodel Christie Brinkley, NBA star Lamar Odom and recent ABC “Bachelorette” Hannah Brown.

But Spicer has an edge: He’s the only contestant who has stood before the American people and either forgot that Hitler gassed people to death, or lied about it.

Spicer’s career has spiraled since he stepped down in July 2017 from his White House role — in which he made a name for himself as an early adherent to the trend of attacks on the press. Aside from his famous denial that Hitler gassed his people, Spicer’s time in the administration is remembered for the numerous false claims he made about the size of the crowd that gathered for the President’s inauguration.

Attempts to rehabilitate his public persona via an appearance at the Emmy Awards and on morning shows were met with cynicism. His book “The Briefing” was not a success, despite offering the colorful description of the president as “a unicorn, riding a unicorn over a rainbow.”

What, are we being too harsh? Like we’re beating a dead (but not gassed!) horse? “Dancing” may seem like a gutter that erstwhile notables thrash around in before being swept out to sea, but it’s not. As James Poniewozik pointed out in The New York Times, Rick Perry did a stint on the show after his time as Texas governor and his failed run for president, but before accepting a cabinet position in the Trump administration. You might find spangles and choreography humiliating, but Americans love reality razzle-dazzle.

Sean Spicer on reality TV is less “Dancing With The Stars” and more Panic! At the Disco. It’s an unnerving reality of the American politics: Even if a person is a certifiable buffoon, that doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous.

Jenny Singer is the deputy life/features editor for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

Jenny Singer is a freelance writer with pieces in Vox, the Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Teen Vogue, and more. She was previously a staff writer at Glamour and the Forward, and she’s currently getting an MFA in nonfiction writing at the University of Iowa.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO