FAMILY Matters alum Jaleel White has admitted he didn’t have the best experience on Dancing With the Stars.
In his new memoir, Growing Up Urkel, he claimed DWTS producers “exploited his personal pain for entertainment” during his time on the show in 2012.
Jaleel broke down in tears during his time on the show in 2012 while talking about his custody battle.
When initially asked to join the show for season 14, Jaleel said he “did not want to do it,” but his manager “pushed” him.
“He said it was a great opportunity- the show pays well and it would get my name back on prime time,” Jaleel wrote in the book, which was released on November 19.
The actor claimed he knew right away he was cast to be the “klutz” and “funny guy” due to his background as the nerdy Steve Urkel.
Though he did well during his first dance with partner Kym Johnson, he said the show producers were “frustrated” that he wasn’t acting like “the Black version of Andy Dick.”
“I was supposed to flop around that stage like a fish out of water because I had played a character like that on TGIF,” he wrote, referring to his Friday night TV block.
Jaleel also continued to clash with partner Kym, especially when she wasn’t available for rehearsals all the time.
“Kym couldn’t do it,” he said of one time he asked to rehearse on a weekend. “She had an appearance in Vegas…In that moment, I was livid.”
In a move he admitted was “a fleeting moment of petty revenge,” he allowed her to sit in coach while he booked himself in first-class ahead of an appearance on The Wendy Williams Show.
His manager later switched seats so she could stay in first-class, and the two bonded over the long flight to NYC.
“We walked off that flight in the early morning at JFK, and we were in a much better place,” he summed up.
Despite all the drama, he said he would “absolutely” do it all again.
“Every entertainer needs to know how to conduct themselves when on the wrong side of a story that has gained fuel in the press,” he explained.
Jaleel is now the host of new game show The Flip Side on CBS.
He married tech exec Nicoletta Ruhl this May at a LA-based country club.
He also has a close relationship with his daughter Samaya, who is now 15 years old.
Jaleel played nerd Steve Urkel opposite Reginald Veljohnson’s Carl Winslow.
Jaleel attended the 13th Annual NFL Honors at Resorts World Theatre on February 08, 2024 in Las Vegas.
Conclusion
Jaleel White’s experience on Dancing With the Stars was not without its challenges. Despite the drama, he has moved on and is now hosting a new game show on CBS. His memoir, Growing Up Urkel, offers a unique glimpse into his life and career.
FAQs
- What was Jaleel White’s experience like on Dancing With the Stars?
Jaleel White claimed that DWTS producers "exploited his personal pain for entertainment" during his time on the show in 2012. - Did Jaleel White have a good experience with his partner Kym Johnson?
Jaleel White and Kym Johnson clashed off-camera, especially when she wasn’t available for rehearsals all the time. - What is Jaleel White doing now?
Jaleel White is now the host of new game show The Flip Side on CBS and has also written a memoir, Growing Up Urkel.
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