*Alfonso Ribeiro is shedding light on why Tyra Banks had such a tough stretch during her time as host of “Dancing With the Stars.”
In a new interview with Parade, the actor discussed Banks’ two-season tenure and the events surrounding it. “Unfortunately for Tyra, she came onto the show during COVID,” Ribeiro said. “And not having the ability to connect with the celebrities and with the pros—how do you do that? 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.”
Ribeiro joined Banks as co-host in 2022, remaining on the show until her departure the following year. He now co-hosts the competition alongside Julianne Hough. Ribeiro said that the circumstances worked against Banks, explaining, “The show set her up for failure because there was no way for her to win.”
Adding to the challenge, Banks followed longtime host Tom Bergeron, whose departure in 2020 marked a turning point for the series. “You’re following Tom Bergeron, the best host on television, right?” Ribeiro said. “You don’t have a co-partner, you don’t have anyone to bounce off of. It’s just you, which makes it about just you, right? Just by default.”
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Between pandemic restrictions and the legacy of her predecessor, Banks’ hosting run faced constant scrutiny. “Everything about her first two seasons was a setup for failure,” Ribeiro explained. “Not that it was a failure, because the show still did well. But I feel like for the audience, they didn’t get to see what it felt like before because the setup was completely different.”
Despite the pressures of the role, Ribeiro emphasized that his friendship with Banks remains strong. “At the end of the day, I was friends with Tyra,” he said. “I still am friends with Tyra, and I respect Tyra immensely. She’s a wonderful person and performer.”
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