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Did 'Dancing With The Stars' Insult Lil' Kim?

Posted Tue May 5, 2009 2:29pm PDT by Justin Mathews in Musictoob

Did Bruno go too far when he called Lil' Kim a "tramp?"

Lil' Kim, rapper and Dancing With The Stars contestant, is no stranger to criticism.

But many think judge Bruno Tonioli may have crossed the line Monday night from "tough judge" to just plain "jerk." If you missed it, the comment came after Kim and partner Derek Hough finished an elegant waltz.

Bruno, after saying he thought the other judges' favorable scores were due to "medication," ripped into Kim.

"You try to be a lady, but you're more comfortable being a tramp," said Bruno.

Many across the country were stunned--including Family Law attorney and marital expert Vikki Ziegler. What did the women's advocate and founder of DivorceDating.com have to say for Bruno?

"It was inappropriate and uncalled-for," said Vikki.

"I think he should issue a public apology. I think it sends a really poor message to women. [Lil' Kim is] in a competition, and her outfits, her behavior, are all 'it's a show!' I mean, isn't that what it's about?"

Ziegler explained to Musictoob what Bruno really meant.

"Calling her a 'tramp,' or 'looking like a tramp,' says to...young women, who want to be stars, want to be rappers, that somehow her behavior in a dancing competition evidences a lack of morals. That's what he was trying to say, and I think it was disrespectful and inappropriate."

The second dance of the night for Derek and Lil' Kim was the salsa; a dance that saw the return of what Kim called the "Bionic Booty."

But, perhaps anxious to begin damage control, Bruno gave a standing ovation to the pair as soon as they finished the sizzling Latin number--with not one mention of "unladylike" behavior.

The couple scored three nines, for a total of 27, on the salsa, making Kim one of the longest-running musicians on the show--easily beating out Belinda Carlisle and Chuck Wicks.

 

Musictoob exclusive: See Dancing judge Carrie Ann Inaba try to rap

Musictoob has exclusive, behind-the-scenes video of Dancing With The Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba showing off her rap skills.

In the video, a promotional clip for Dr. Scholl's For Her, Carrie Ann Inaba introduces her on-set dance partner, then after a "blip" she raps: "Here she is/She's gonna give you some good/dance/shoe/tips!" and throws up a "sign."


 

To be fair, Carrie Ann says she's "obviously not a rapper." Luckily Lil' Kim wasn't there to turn the tables on Inaba and critique her hip-hop skills.    

 

Go to musictoob.com for more ladies and tramps!

792 Comments

61. Yahoo! Music User -
If only she were a Christian. Then Bruno could have said anything he wanted to and nobody would have cared.

62. Kim 138 -
Bruno's comment was issued playfully, and that's how it should be taken. Americans need to grow some thicker skin if they were offended by this.

63. tef43 -
Bruno was dead on correct. Now they need to boot the other tramp, Melissa.

64. Yahoo! Music User -
I take lessons with my wife. Tramp, naughty, nasty, seductive, flirtatious, sleezy, Terms are used to describe an attitude that you are trying to acheive. Bruno wasn't calling her a tramp. He was saying, she performs better and gets into the character better in the rhythem dances which require a little bit of that attitude. Almost all dancers (including professionals) are better at one type of dance.

65. Yahoo! Music User -
He didn't mean she was a tramp literally...please people!! He says crazy things like that all the time. Was this the first time any of you watched the show, his comments always come out like that. Someone asked what is the world coming to and your right, what is the world coming to?? People are always looking for something to pick on and argue about and attack people for. How about just get over it and take the comment for what it was for, a poorly worded critique

66. Elena -
I don't think that he meant to be hurtful. He was just caught up in the moment. I am sooooo sad that Kim was kicked off. She was a GREAT dancer and I wish her nothing but the best!!

67. Nana -
I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE JUDGING OF VIEWERS - I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SHOW FOR 'DANCERS' - NOT A
POPULARITY CONTEST. TY IS A VERY NICE PERSON BUT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN VOTED OFF AFTER THE SECOND SHOW. - DEREK & LIL KIM HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN ONE OF THE BEST DANCING COUPLES ON THIS SEASON. MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHAT BRUNO WAS TRYING TO SAY - IT WAS NOT AN INSULT, BUT IT ACTUALLY WAS TELLING EVERYONE HOW TALENTED SHE IS AND HOW WELL SHE CAN PERFORM.
VIEWERS SHOULD REMEMBER - THIS IS A DANCING SHOW.

68. Judy -
I know what Bruno was trying to say. When Lil Kim's dancing is reserved that isn't her style. She is at her best when she dances freely and from her heart. Unfortunately, he expressed it demeaningly. He could have said it differently.
I am totally in shock at Lil Kim not being in the final four. She proved herself and deserved it. She surprised me with her range of dance and improved weekly. What a loss!

69. Yahoo! Music User -
Nither Len nor Bruno have ever been laid by a Woman, I almost 100% sure. Their comments should be under fire because they judge out of emotion instead of like professionals. Bruno should be fined and fired.

70. from the hood -
Thats what is wrong every one takes everything to serious Bruno Tonioli freaks out goes on long speaches gets into what he is saying and talks looks at his arms his face he loves dance and didn't mean anything he was exiceted about lit kims dance and just was talking he DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT HER HE JUST CANT CONTROL HIS MOUTH..TAKE A CHILL PILL

71. Matthew M -
If Lil Kim was a white woman noone would be complaining so much. It's just a case where black woman got voted off and the rest you can yell racism. I'm so sick of it. Not one person alive has ever been a slave. If you have ever watched the show you know that the blacks on the show always gets the higher score over the whites anyday. Ty should have gone home, but what did the others ever do. I don't know much about Lil Kim however she did use her butt to get herself the high scores. You use what you have and she did. Sometimes the things we used can sometimes come back and bite us in the BUTT.

72. deborah -
Lil Kim was the most exciting dancer! She and her partner Derrick were so insync! That looked so good together. I only watched the show because of them. How the rodeo guy got to stay is an atrocity! He dances like he got a stick stuck up his butt! As for Bruno, what he said was disrespectful, but I don't think he meant it that way! His chose of words was his biggest mistake. He likes Lil Kim.

73. Adam P -
Bruno wasn't trying to disrespect her at all. He was just saying that when she does latin she rocks, but when it comes to ballroom (or waltz) it comes off a little fake. He was using the Disney Lady and the Tramp as a reference (just as he always looks for some cliché way to critique). Meaning opposite. Ziegler read WAY too much into it.

74. Yahoo! Music User -
Now How in the Hell do you get (race) thrown into something like this? He didnt say she was a black ho or a black tramp, and the definition of tramp is....v. to walk firmly or heavily.,to travel about on foot.,to walk or ramble through.....now where is race, religion or creed mentioned?? Quit being so damn politically correct and get over it already. Im sure its not the worst shes ever heard...or will ever hear. If shes not making a fuss over it...Why the Hell are you?

75. doloresc -
come on people. what bruno said was exactly what she was portraying. she WAS better with the sexy dances. He meant no harm as far as I'm concerned. She, herself kept commenting on her wonderful booty. Let's get on with it women libbers. Quit nit picking every little thing and get a life.....No apology needed, in fact it was a compliment to her dancing....

76. RONALD -
I think it is sad that, british judges come to America with the sole purpose to make themselves witty and being able to say anything without know repercaution taken. I personally feel that bruno idiot should be asked not only to resign and go back from were ever he came from but to apologize to Lil kim. If it was a paris hilton doing the same number, i don't think he would have the audacity to say the same thing to her. His comments were tasteless, rude, degrading and uncalled for. Bruno maybe your mom prefers to be called a tramp.

77. Paul -
Everyone makes too much of everything , now a days...

78. Ms. Freeze -
Wow, a felon should not be on TV! She portrays a tramp in her music! Wait, I thought that this was a dancing competition, and she did a great job. I did not know we were judging her music or her persona, bottom line she did great on the show; and yes although he is from across the Atlantic that doesn't make it alright, "the meaning got lost in translation" would we have the same response it he had said that about Shawn or Melissa?

79. Van Y -
Let's face it America, Bruno, obviously thinks it's ok to insult a black woman on national TV and it's no big deal. I have enjoyed the show, and also enjoyed Melissa dancing....but come on robotic Ty Murray. I am no longer watching. He should have been voted off long ago. Gilles is hot and a great dancer. But no thanks....Lil Kim was excellent and should be in the finals. NO LONGER WATCHING DWTS. PEACE

80. Yahoo! Music User -
I feel that the show has lost it credibility. Most people I know were so upset by Bruno's careless remarks that I turned the channel. If Kim had been a white woman he never would have called her a tramp. I am outraged by this and the network should do something about it - publicly. I felt this was a personal attack on this woman. But why? Hum....
Kim did not deserve this kind of treatment. She danced well and was treated badly by the various statements about her life. People living in glass houses should not throw stones.
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