Alfonso Ribeiro is opening up about Tyra Banks’ time as “Dancing With the Stars” host, admitting the challenges she faced made her run almost “impossible.”
In a new interview with Parade, Ribeiro explained that Banks, who hosted seasons 29 and 30 before he joined as co-host in season 31, was dealt a difficult hand. Not only did she step in following longtime host Tom Bergeron’s surprise exit, but she also had to helm the show solo during COVID-19 restrictions.
“I think unfortunately for Tyra, she came onto the show during COVID,” Ribeiro said. “It was always a two-person job. It became a one-woman show. So everything was on her to deliver everything when the show wasn’t designed that way.” He added that while the show still did well, the setup “was a setup for failure” through no fault of Banks herself.
Alfonso Explains Why Tyra Had It Harder
Ribeiro pointed out that hosting during the pandemic meant Banks couldn’t connect with celebrities or pros the way past hosts had. With no live audience in the ballroom and strict distancing rules, the atmosphere was completely different.
“You’re following Tom Bergeron, the best host on television, right? You don’t have a co-partner, you don’t have anyone to bounce off of,” he explained. “You can’t have contact with the celebrities [or] with the pros. Everything about her first two seasons was a setup for failure.”
Ribeiro also reminded viewers that DWTS has always been “a reality show wrapped in a dance competition.” Without the usual energy of the ballroom crowd, he said, it was hard for Banks to thrive in the role. “The ballroom was dead,” Ribeiro admitted. “It was an impossible situation for her. And it sucks, because could she have been the long-term host of the show if it had been a different time?”
Past Reactions From the DWTS Family
Despite the challenges, many cast members supported Banks during her three-season run. Derek Hough called her “phenomenal” under the pressure of live TV, while pro dancer Britt Stewart praised her contributions and said once you’re part of the DWTS family, “you never truly really leave.”
When Banks stepped away in 2023 to focus on her business ventures, she personally gave Ribeiro her blessing to take over. “She was very happy for me,” Ribeiro told Us Weekly, adding that she showed him “nothing but love” as he transitioned into the role.
Julianne Hough later joined Ribeiro as co-host for season 32, with both stars describing their chemistry as “fantastic.” Reportedly, Banks herself praised Julianne as “a perfect choice,” saying she would “crush it” in the ballroom.
Ribeiro said, “At the end of the day, I was friends with Tyra. I still am friends with Tyra, and I respect Tyra immensely. She’s a wonderful person and performer.”
