'Dancing With the Stars' tells Michael Bolton (nicely) to go pound sand

Michael Bolton shouldn't hold his breath waiting for an apology from "Dancing With the Stars" judge Bruno Tonioli.

Seems the show's producers are of the opinion that Bruno was just doing what they pay him to do. "While we respect the feelings of our celebrities and our dancers, we don't feel Bruno should be expected to apologize for doing his job," they said Wednesday in a statement published by EW's Hollywood Insider.

Perhaps they could settle this like that RV company worked it out with Taylor Lautner after he filed a lawsuit: Bolton challenges Bruno to a singing contest (instead of a push-up contest, like the RV place did), Bruno declines, Bolton is declared the winner, and then someone gives some money to charity.

Then again, maybe Bolton just goes and pounds sand.

See Michael demanding an apology and register your vote in our "What do you think of Michael Bolton now" poll here.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photos: Michael Bolton, left, and Bruno Tonioli. Credits: Fred Prouser / Reuters, left; Stuart Wilson / Getty Images, right

Related dispatch from the Ministry of Gossip:

Michael Bolton on 'Dancing With the Stars': Crybaby, diva or just a poor sport?

Comments

[sara]

I'm glad they backed Bruno, I'm sick of the whining from Michael and his fans.

[MM]

I absolutely agree with Bruno. Some peope can dance some people can't dance. Bruno's job is to judge the dancing. He was absolutely honest, and I agree with his assessment. I watch the show because I enjoy the honest and sometime harsh judgement of the judges. The only way to improve is to hear what you did wrong, and sometimes you need to hear that nothing you did was good enough. Go back to singing.

[Tina]

It's not what you say but the way you say it. I think Bruno was particularly harsh, maybe unprofessional. Kate Gosselin had less dancing talent than a tree. She made it much farther than week 2 and I don't recall anyone being so harsh with her! I have always been a Michael Bolton, always will be, but Bruno not so much.

[Tickie]

What a crybaby and bad sport, he needs to shut up and act like a man if he has the kahunas to do that.

[Tickie]

Crybaby, wuss, bad sport michael bolton is a whiney girleyman

[Carol booher]

I think being rude is never cool. I think that Bruno is a little smart mouthed punk that shows his how partial he is to certain stars. Michael is a great star and for that reason deserves respect. I dont mean that he should not be critiqued but not so harshly or so rudely. I think by the judges taking up for Bruneo is saying it is ok to be rude and mean and for that reason i will never watch the show again. I agree Michael was not great but he was far from the worse ...i could name a lot of people that were far worse but that would make me rude and mean like Bruneo.. i wont tune in again. I was bored with it before this because actually i dont feel anyone on the show is very good this yr.. Michael has some good company

[Renee]

If Bolton's dance were better I'd say that Bruno's comments were out of line but let's face it - Bolton's dance sucked and honestly it didn't look to me like he was putting that much effort into it. And Bruno is paid to be over the top and flamboyant, which is why ABC supported him. Most of the time he is the NICER judge - I just think he was completely offended as a dancer by Bolton and with good reason, IMHO. I can't fault him for giving his honest opinion. I think Bolton needs to learn to show a little humility. His response was so ungracious it makes anything Bruno said look fair by comparison. It was very uncool and any celebrity who wasn't a pompous jerk would have known better. So my vote goes to Bruno!