Melanie Mills, former head makeup artist for “Dancing With the Stars,” recently discussed her 2011 departure from the show on Cheryl Burke’s podcast, “Sex, Lies and Spray Tans.” Mills revealed that she was fired by ABC, a decision that was not hers and that left her heartbroken.
Shocking departure
Melanie Mills worked as the head makeup artist on “Dancing with the Stars” for nearly 10 seasons. She was unexpectedly fired after Season 12. During her appearance on Cheryl Burke’s podcast, Mills shared, “I was definitely fired. Hi! I loved that show. I was heartbroken. It was so mean the way it happened that I gave my heart and soul to that show, I believed in it.”
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Mills revealed that she was fired after an interview in which she was asked about season 12 contestant Kirstie Alley. Although Mills maintained a professional attitude and did not voice any issues with Alley, she was quoted as calling Alley a “diva.” This misquote led to her firing.
Controversial interview and aftermath
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In the interview, Mills mentioned that Ally wanted control over her costumes and makeup, but she said the makeup team did their best to accommodate her. Despite this, Mills was misquoted, which led to her dismissal. Mills told Burke, “I was devastated like Dancing with the Stars was my baby and it just died.” She added, “I thought my career was over, right? Maybe they wanted that for Cheryl, because let’s face it, how scripted is the show? It’s totally not reality.”
Mills further explained that she was used as an example and told she “knows the rules” about doing interviews without a show’s publicist present. The experience left her frustrated and questioning the nature of the industry.
The return and demise of Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley returned for the All-Star season in 2012, again partnering with Maks Chmerkovskiy and finishing seventh. Alley died on December 5, 2022, at the age of 71 after a private battle with colon cancer. Chmerkovskiy paid a heartfelt tribute to her on Instagram, saying she was one of the most unique people he had ever met.
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Longtime DWTS producer Deena Katz previously spoke about Ally’s struggles with the show’s makeup process. Katz explained that women are often intimidated by the makeup on the show, wanting to use their own artists, which wasn’t allowed. Ally was very upset by this and fought against it.
Other notable DWTS firings
Melanie Mills isn’t the only important person to have been fired from “Dancing with the Stars.” In 2020, Tom Bergeron, the beloved host, was fired after 28 seasons. He was fired for publicly criticizing the show’s decision to cast controversial political figure Sean Spicer. Most recently, Adam Powell, the sound engineer and music director for the show’s live tour, was fired after working two 100-hour weeks during the 2024 tour. Powell expressed his frustration, echoing Mills’ sentiments about the unpredictability and harshness of the entertainment industry.
The cruel reality of show business
Mills’ experience highlights the often cruel nature of the entertainment industry. Despite her dedication and award-winning work, she faced a sudden and unexpected termination. “We’re all just day-to-day hired people at the end of the day. As you know, in this business, anybody can get fired for any reason. It’s a cruel, cruel business,” Mills said.
Her story is a reminder of the challenges and uncertainties faced by those working in this industry. Despite her departure, Mills has continued her passion for makeup and remains a respected figure in her field.
Source: https://th-xuyenmoc.edu.vn
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