SALSA SPICER

Sean Spicer on Dancing With the Stars? A Pro Promises Easier Judges Than Trump

Cheryl Burke offers her expert opinion on the former press secretary’s cha-cha potential.
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Left; by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Right; by Adam Taylor/ABC/Getty Images.

Mere days after making his exit as communications whipping-boy of reality-star-turned-president Donald Trump, Sean Spicer may be in talks to kick-start his own reality-television career. The potential platform, according to Page Six: Dancing With the Stars, which returns to television September 18 and is reportedly in the process of casting its latest batch of fox-trotting celebrities. Rather than speculate wildly about the delicious possibility of seeing Spicer cha-cha his heart out on the series, Vanity Fair reached out to the show’s all-star professional Cheryl Burke, who offered her own thoughts.

“At the end of the day, Dancing With the Stars is about leaving yourself open to critique,” Burke said Thursday morning, moments after seeing the news come across her own Twitter feed. “But the judges on Dancing With the Stars will be child’s play compared to what Sean Spicer has gone through at the White House.”

Indeed, Spicer reportedly opted out of holding press briefings on camera because his boss relentlessly judged them from the West Wing. Burke, who previously partnered with politician Tom Delay, stressed that D.W.T.S. is all about fun, and could be a cathartic, image rehabilitating outlet to the beleaguered White House employee.

“Especially with Dancing With the Stars, we love the underdog story,” Burke said, citing another previous dance partner Ryan Lochte—who appeared on the show after faking a robbery at the Rio Olympics—as an example. “He was one of the most hated men in America at the time, and we were able to help him showcase who he really is. He is a great guy behind it all. If Sean looks at Dancing With the Stars and the people who have come off as controversial initially, only to win the public opinion, I think this could be a good move for him. I have been with the show for over a decade, and it really puts everyone on an equal playing field in terms of likability. It has helped repair people’s images. So why not? It would be great fun.”

Of course, the one person standing between Spicer and the opportunity of a reality TV-assisted public-image rehaul is Spicer himself. Would Spicer, whose short fuse and lumbering physicality inspired Melissa McCarthy’s viral Saturday Night Live impression, be open to occasionally making a fool of himself for the sake of a good, ratings-grabbing foxtrot?

“I am not sure how he would be as a dancer. But you have to be flexible, you have to be in great shape, and you have to be game,” said Burke. “If Sean Spicer could add some of that spice into the ballroom and go with it, have fun, try to cha cha his butt off, and consider this an incredible new experience, I think he would do great.”

Burke laughingly confessed that she is hesitant to re-team with another politician after Delay sustained an early-season injury—fractured feet— on her watch. But if she were to partner with the former press secretary, she has a few ideas for their potential first routine.

“It would probably be a Latin dance,” Burke suggested. “We need to see Sean Spicer’s lighter side—a lighter side that no one expects to see. I would say a cha cha or a salsa, with him wearing something bright red. Can’t you just see him in ruffles and high-heel dancing shoes, dancing the salsa? Hopefully he has a great sense of humor, because D.W.T.S. is a dance competition, but it’s also about showing humility and letting your guard down.”

For the song, Burke thinks that she would either lean into the salsa theme—“with some very authentic music with a lot of instruments in the background”—or pick something off-the-wall unexpected, “like Rihanna.”

As for incorporating Trump symbolism into a routine, Burke cautioned Spicer against using anything too gimmick-y in early weeks: “Sometimes it is a little too soon for certain stunts like that. . but you could do something not so in-your-face.”

Another perk to the D.W.T.S. gig? Spicer wouldn’t have to bring his own mini fridge.

“Sean would have his own trailer, which comes with a mini fridge,” Burke assured Vanity Fair. “So he wouldn’t have to worry about getting his own.”

A representative for ABC told V.F., “We do not confirm or comment on casting rumors. . .We’ll be announcing our season 25 cast closer to our premiere date, September 18.”