The Real Reason Peta Murgatroyd Left Dancing With The Stars
"Dancing With The Stars" has been on the air for over 15 years (via Parade). That equates to 30 seasons! It's hard to remember a time when dancing celebrities were not on our television sets. While the show has been successful, season 29 brought an 8% decline in viewership. However, the show did improve with viewers in younger demographics, an area where it once struggled.
As their milestone 30th season approached, there were a lot of changes made. Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews, longtime hosts of the show, were let go (via Woman and Home). Tyra Banks took over as a host, much to the dismay of fans. One fan wrote, "I will not watch with Tyra still on the show!!!"
Bergeron and Andrews were not the only ones to exit the show as the 30th season approached. Peta Murgatroyd, a long-time professional dancer, also chose to exit before the current season.
Murgatroyd left the show by choice
Murgatroyd was a staple on the "Dancing With The Stars" cast of professional dancers. She had been on the show from seasons 13-20, 22, 24-25, and 28-29 (via Us Weekly). A long-time member of the cast, she had quickly become a fan favorite.
When she first joined the show during its 13th season, she had a rough start. She was eliminated first, but she quickly bounced back (via Distractify). She won the Mirror Ball trophy during her second season on the show. While she took a few seasons off here and there, she officially decided to part ways with the show at the end of season 29.
Murgatroyd wrote a message on Instagram announcing her departure. "To my 'Dancing With the Stars' Fam ... As many of you know, after 10 years with @dancingabc, I will not be returning for Season 30. While I will miss being a part of the show, I'm excited to continue to focus on other projects and my business endeavors, along with spending quality time with family," she wrote.
While other members of the "Dancing With The Stars" cast were let go from their jobs, Murgatroyd is stepping away to focus on her family and future projects.