Louis van Amstel: Margaret Cho's rainbow ruined our 'Dancing With the Stars' parade

"Dancing With the Stars" pro Louis van Amstel isn't shuffling around his feelings over being eliminated: He thinks partner Margaret Cho's rainbow costume, and its accompanying association with gay pride, did them in.

"I had a breakdown the next day. I called my friends, I felt horrible," the dancer told PopEater.

Cho donned a colorful mini, representing the colors of the pride flag (a.k.a. Roy G. Biv), with Van Amstel in a matching belt.

"That was not my message. Maybe it was Margaret's message, but not mine. The minute it was about gay pride, I knew we were gone. I knew it. But if I would have said something then and there, I would have looked like [a jerk]," he said. "The damage was done."

Cho is a longtime advocate for LGBT issues, as well as women's rights and body image struggles.

What do you think of Van Amstel's take on the elimination? Tell us in the comments section below.

— Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Margaret Cho and  Louis Van Amstel perform on "Dancing With the Stars" on Oct. 4. Credit: Adam Larkey / ABC.

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Comments

[riochica02]

I strongly believe that it was Margaret Cho's complete lack of dance ability was the cause of her elimination from Dancing With the Stars.
I am more upset to see Louis van Amstel eliminated, he is one of my favorite professional dancers on the show.
Should Audrina Patridge or Jennifer Grey been his dance partner this season, he would still be in contention to win the mirror ball trophy.

[All Hallows Eve]

Louis may very well be correct about the reasoning here, he knows the show better than myself. The viewer demographic is primarily conservatives...but it was simply a matter of time...he was doomed the minute they assigned Cho to be his partner.

I knew she would last long.

She just doesn't hit me as the kind of person with the determination and discipline it takes to go far in this competition. And above all, a person must be fit.

Louis rocks the dance floor.

[r]

I think he looks like [a jerk] now.

[diana de armas]

personally, i'm addicted to this show. i love it. every element of this show keeps me hooked. i watch it for many reasons but i DO NOT tune in every week to hear anyone's political views. the show is called "dancing with the stars". that's what i want to see. louie is amongst the most amazing dancers. kudos to all!!!!!!

[American Girl]

I hoped Margaret would last a while, but DWTS is not the place for political statements.

[Amanda]

It's unfair that Louis had some competitive disadvantages for the past two seasons. I started watching Dancing With the Stars in Season 10 where he was partnered with Niecy Nash, who, like Margaret, wasn't exactly the trimmest person on earth. They were able to make it to the top 6.

Incorporating comedy into his routines with Niecy worked well. Their routines weren't all about comedy, and they were able to pull off the serious dances. On the other hand, Louis and Margaret went way overboard on the comedy. Had they focused on her performance, they might not have been eliminated so quickly.

[Antoinette]

I love Louis and I love Margaret.

I think the judges have always scored him unfairly because he's gay. Seriously, this is ABC. Remember how they treated Adam Lambert? Notice how Johnny Weir said he wanted to be on constantly after the Olympics and he hasn't been on either season that's followed, even with all his popularity.

However, Margaret messed up a lot in that particular dance. So rainbow or not, she would have gone home. She had the ability and I hope she keeps dancing, but whether it was nerves or a lack of practice, that performance wasn't good. But DWTS, and ABC, are definitely not gay friendly, imo.

[M.B. Bush]

i love Louis and i love Margaret and i loved the message but the dance was horrible. i am gay and i did not vote for them. it is first a dance show and Margaret did not perform. the Situation out-danced her.... don't disappoint me with whining, Louis.

[ghrtt3]

Nothing to do with being gay, Lance Bass finished 3rd one year. She is just a lousy dancer.

[may]

I think it is great that Cho wore a rainbow dress. She went out with a statement. It is a timely and great sign of support given the recent tragedies of gay/outsider teen suicides. That said, she was was not the best dancer and tried to overcompensate with humor. I doubt it was her solidarity to the gay community that threw them out. Louis shouldn't trip so hard about the dress.

[B. Jackson]

Is Margaret Cho a lesbian? Is Louis vn Amstel gay? I would like to know because I have watched some of her comedy shows and am uncertain if she is a lesbian or not. I saw her show where she talked about Sara Palan. I honestly thought she danced pretty good and much better than Bristol Palan. Louis van Amstel is a good dancer. Political views and politcal statements should not be allowed on the show. It is a dance contest for public entertainment. I watch for the entertainment and to watch the stars as well as the professional dancers. If I wanted politics, I would watch the news. Everybody needs to have a break from political statements and just relax and watch the dancers.

[dave]

I think they were eliminated because of Margaret Cho's hatefulness in the public political arena. There are certain comedians that are very funny in their element but when you see the ugliness inside their hearts come out in political statements, it just turns you off and you ignore them. Case in point. I hope Cho does some soul searching and finds something good inside, someday.

[Shaune-Marie Berg]

Isn't this the same guy who spoke out EVERY week about gay marriage when Niecy Nash was his partner?

[B. Jackson]

Why does whether you are gay or straight have anything to do with dancing and entertainment. The American people want to be entertained. We don't want to worry about the economic times, politics or whether somebody is gay. It is a dance show for heaven's sake. Why can't the entertainers just concentrate on dancing and/or winning and not try to push their views down the viewer's throat. We want to get away from out troubles for an hour or so and just relax without all this gay, political or racial slurs. DWTS is a good show and is watched by millions, I think the show should control what the dancers wear and how they act while on their show before it really starts hurting their ratings.