Sean Spicer brushes off 'DWTS' backlash: 'I've been living this for a while'

LOS ANGELES – The good news about Sean Spicer's ruffled, fluorescent-green blouse is that it may have taken people's minds off his dancing ability and the controversy surrounding his presence this season on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

The bad news? The ruffled, fluorescent-green blouse.

"I don't think I've ever done lime green. I've never had an open-chest (shirt) in my life," the former White House press secretary told a group of reporters on the "Dancing" ballroom floor moments after he and pro partner Lindsay Arnold performed a salsa, with Spicer opening on bongo drums, to the Spice Girls' "Spice Up Your Life" in Monday's season opener.

"Between the song, the bongos, the shirt, this was a combination of things that I don't (think) I ever thought was possible in my world," he said.

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Spicer's garish outfit may have brought to mind earlier clothing criticism he received for an ill-fitting gray suit he wore at the lectern in the White House press room the day after the presidential inauguration in 2017.

But that appearance, in which Spicer accused the media of downplaying the size of Trump's inauguration crowd, was one of many of his actions as press secretary that created a backlash to his selection for the ABC dance competition.

Before the season started, host Tom Bergeron criticized the casting because he sees "Dancing" as as "a joyful respite from our exhausting political climate" and wants it "free of inevitably divisive bookings."

Spicer defended his participation and sees a unifying factor.

"I've been living this for a while. I expect it. We are where we are as a country," he said of the backlash. "But if people could tune in tonight and say, 'Look at this diverse cast. They're rooting for each other, they're having a blast with each other and we can, for two hours, put policy and politics aside, have fun, relax,' then that's what we should do more of. And that's why the show is such a great opportunity for people to tune in and see something that gives them a reprieve from everything else they see in their daily lives."

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Asked about governmental policies that still affect people after two hours of "DWTS" escapism is over, Spicer offered a solution.

"That's why we have elections. And so, if you don't like them, go vote for someone new," he said. "If people don't like policies, go out and vote, organize, do what you want. But that's what makes our country great."

Spicer said viewers will learn,"I like to have fun, can play a joke or two. I can't dance well."

That last point appeared to be underlined by Monday's performance, in which Spicer and Arnold finished second to last of 12 couples (12 points out of 30 from three judges). (The first elimination will take place on next Monday's show.)

Judge Bruno Tonioli opened his critique by damning Spicer with faint praise.

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"You were going bonkers with the bongos. You looked like you were being attacked by a swarm of wasps," he said. "I actually have to say there were some elements of salsa there, not always on time or (in) rhythm. And your hip action, it looked like they were set in cement, your hips. … But I have to say it was strangely entertaining."

Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Len Goodman praised Spicer more for just showing up than for his performance.

"I'm going to give you the best fluorescent shimmy of the night, that for sure," Inaba said. "You're very boisterous, and I really appreciate that… You were off beat most of the dance, but you had fun."

"I admire your courage coming on this show," Goodman said.

Season 25 pro champ Arnold, who assessed Spicer's "danceability (as) at "like a pre- preschool level" during the introductory clip, saw progress in his performance Monday: "I think he might have graduated to kindergarten just now."

Spicer praised the show's supportive environment: "Everybody's in it for each other. The pros, the crew, the cast, they're all great people and everybody tonight is for each other."

He said the outside criticism didn't create an additional burden for him during training.

"No, I felt extra pressure because I was wearing a lime-green shirt with white pants and playing bongos to the Spice Girls," he said. "I can take a couple of tweets. This? People are watching."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Dancing With the Stars': Sean Spicer addresses criticism after debut