PureDWTS Season 28: E! Claims Sharna Was Let Go Due to “Budget”
So the speculation on Sharna & Artem’s dismissal continues…and per E!, they think Sharna’s in particular may have been due to cost:
E! News has learned Burgess’ exit, which could just be for the season, was due to the budget of the aging series. DWTS previously took a cycle off to recalibrate after sinking ratings and is returning with some changes, including ditching the dance troupe and many extras previously associated with the reality series.
Now while that may not seem like anything worth reporting, I will say this: a source informed me yesterday that Sharna was, indeed, the highest paid of the female pros – she renegotiated her contract prior to season 27 (it may have even been prior to season 26), and it was for “quite a bit more than the other girls were making”. This would have been prior to the show taking a nosedive last year, and the folks in charge that agreed to it were the old crew (who would wind up getting canned and replaced by the new set of dunces prior to season 28). When the new crew of bigwigs (Llinares & Co.) took over, I’m sure they were told to find ways to cut costs – and I daresay it’s cheaper to let go of some pros that are costing too much and bring on newbies that you can afford to pay at a much lower rate (such as Daniella – this could also explain why the troupe was cut). So this theory about Sharna’s dismissal actually makes some sense to me…as for Artem, though, source said his contract wasn’t even old enough to come up for renewal yet, so it’s a bit murkier just why he was let go.
Now before any of you go off all half-cocked with questions like “UGH WHY WAS SHARNA MAKING SO MUCH MORE MONEY THAN THE OTHER GIRLS?! SHE DIDN’T DESERVE IT!!!”, something to keep in mind: oftentimes, contract pay rates have less to do with merit (although it helps) and more to do with how good your agent is at negotiating – plus, studies show that women are less likely to get raises than men, and half the battle is simply having the cojones to ask for the money in the first place and insist upon being compensated fairly. So if Sharna was commanding a nice lil salary from DWTS, I say “Good for her! #LadiesGetPaid”. Her contract pay may also have hinged upon her agreeing to stick around DWTS for awhile – like franchise players in the NFL, you can usually command a higher salary if you agree to a degree of exclusivity (i.e. DWTS has first dibs on Sharna each season, and reserve the right to forbid her from accepting any other offers). As for the inevitable questions like “But how was Sharna getting paid better than OG’s like Cheryl and Peta?!”, I recommend you reread our posts on how the pros’ contracts work, and keep in mind that once the pros are past their initial contract, they can negotiate on a season-to-season basis – which is where Cheryl and Peta are at this point, and a la carte one-season contracts never pay as well as multi-season ones (but the trade-off is flexibility – the pros are only contractually obligated to DWTS for a season at a time, and can do whatever they want after it’s over). I’m sure Jenna’s initial contract still has quite a bit of time left on it before she can renegotiate, and I’d venture a guess that Witney, Lindsay, and Emma have a little bit of time left on theirs as well – so none of them would be renegotiating just yet.
Thoughts on this theory for why Sharna was sent packing?
It makes sense to me that budget reasons are why Sharna isn’t on this season. I’d be interested to know how much the male pros are making and if its comparable to the women. It kinda makes sense not to have her back this season to further distance the show from the Bobby win of last season even though really Sharna just did her job there. Not sure why Artem was cut loose but that one looks like a more permanent split. Maybe they Daniella and her husband were a package deal so one of the male pros had to go.
Probably very true but at the same time for a struggling show you gotta make it work. Letting her go is not making fans happy it’s drawing them further away. I mean can’t they restructure they do that in sports all the time or players take a pay cut for the team as well Not saying she should have it’s totally her choice just wondering if there could have been other options bc it’s making people more upset with TPTB and their loyalty to the pros
I’ll miss Artem. Started watching Strictly because of his season with Kara Tointon. At least both of these pros can walk away with 1 mirrorball, meanwhile the schmuckovskiy’s have to remain to one day fulfill the prophecy of having more mirrorballs than Derek.
Even if it is true that Sharna was making the most out of the females (presume Val makes even more, though), don’t buy that was the only reason for her cut. If they truly want you on, they make it work, and I can’t imagine making a little more in the scheme of things really has a huge impact on DWTS’s bottom line. Plus, if the decision was purely budgetary, wouldn’t Sharna know that? Per Bobby Bones’ show yesterday on 8/23, Sharna still didn’t know WHY and was speculating the reason could be because of the controversial win (Bobby texted with Sharna about it Thursday night 8/22). And why wait until a few days before the reveal to tell her? Methinks there were other factors for sure and she possibly was the sacrificial lamb/scapegoat for last season’s mess.
Do you know if Sharna and/or Artem’s contracts were completely terminated or was this actually them being benched for the season? Just curious considering both were in the middle of contracts and wondering if it means they are contractually obligated to come back next season if the show decides to bring them back (assuming there is another season).
I’m not surprised that they would cut the troupe for budget reasons, and as I mentioned in another post, I think the troupe was beyond it’s purpose at this point. If money is an issue, I’m curious what this season will end up looking like from a production stand point. I’d still be surprised if this was the reason Sharna was cut. I’m going with they added a new female pro, and wanted to keep the others for whatever reason, so someone had to go. Maybe the same with Artem.
When does dancing with the stars start. What is the date
This seems to be more reasonable to me then Sharna being let go for a controversial win. As someone already mentioned, she was literally just doing her job with Bobby, the voting and them actually winning was completely out of her hands.
Sharna being the highest paid female pro does not surprise me, as she seems to be the latest female pro to renegotiate her contract. I would assume she felt and proved she deserved more money then when her last contract was done. Whoever’s contract is up next, using Lindsay as an example, I would feel she would also renegotiate what she currently was making as well. I still feel Sharna at least deserved the respect to renegotiate her contract again, if they felt the old producers paid her too much. Seems she didn’t get the choice which maybe she would have done just to remain on the show. Do we think her contract was terminated completely or was this a quick fix for Season 28 and she could return in the future?
As for Artem, if his wasn’t budget or contract related then I am still sticking with my gut and saying they went by stats and logistics and unfortunately he’s never even made the finals. Who knows at this point, but fans are definitely not happy they let these two go.
[…] From Discover on Google https://www.puredwts.com/2019/08/24/puredwts-season-28-e-claims-sharna-was-let-go-due-to-budget/ […]
I could kind of see it with Sharna if the show wanted to distance itself from Bobby and season 27 but it wasn’t her fault at the end of the day
Jen, I doubt they would terminate the contracts. Why spend the attorney fees to do that when all they have to do is say “no partner for you”?
I have been a fan of the show since it’s commencement. I have ALWAYS looked forward to watching the show, season after season. It’s more than a show, it’s a favorite weekly mother/daughter activity I partake with my daughter. It’s a special time she and I have together. We love guessing the score, commenting on the costume, choreography, stories, music etc. However, this is the first time in all the years of being loyal fans that we are not looking forward to watching the upcoming season. The message that is being sent with Sharna not coming back this season is one In which I don’t agree with…”You’re punished for your hard work,”You’re punished for winning,” If you look back at Sharna’s relationships with her celebrity partners, you will notice her craft is unique! She is able to make great connections because she uses empathy, patience, validation, tenacity, compassion, understanding, active listening and love. She values human connectedness. Unfortunately, DWTS did not reciprocate that, for which I am disappointed!!
#AA if we were going by stats Gleb would have left before Artem since he has only made it past week 5 ONCE.Gleb has never had an elderly partner and still isn’t making it far with his 20 year old partners and that says a lot because many have been good but his teaching lacks. ALso Brandon would have been dropped and Keo all before Artem. I don’t doubt Artem gets paid as much as Val.He was sent over from Strictly and was a very popular pro for them to give up.He has mentioned many times DWTS called him and pursued him and possibly offered him a large amount to leave that series for the american version. I’m not honestly sure if his was about money as well but to cut a pro in a middle of a contract is terrible especially because Sharna and Artem were both very loyal to the show.
I’m not watching the show anymore, after they let sharna go, wouldn’t bother me if the show got cancelled
I watched DWTS BECAUSE I liked Sharna!
DWTS has never been the same with Derrick, Julianne and Mark gone. I do not like the young dancers as good. I know they have to start somewhere, but none are like the older ones?
That’s BS about Sharna!! Bring her back
Think the Sharna thing is speculation who knows we only ever see the public side of things she may be difficult to work with for all we know. I think myself that the show would pay for the right person. Also Sharna posts since she was dropped sound very much like a goodbye letter than I’m sitting a season out letter
Yes DWTS has become a train wreck but I still love it.
So sad to see Sharna & Artem go. Sharna was my favorite female dancer. If they are moving on, wish them both luck with their next venture!
Could the Sharna fanboard stop sending folks over here to spam? Super tired of this subject and feel like blocking people.
That stuck you our out I will not watch dancer with star.
I used to love watching the show, as did my family. Over the past few seasons, it has gotten stale, boring and too predictable. So we stopped watching it completely. Sharna was one of my favorites, it’s sad it had to happen. But it could be a blessing in disguise, in the form of a bigger & better opportunity in the very near future. Wishing Sharna all the best!
Sharna being let go is “BS”to me!! So done with DWTS!!!! Good luck to you Sharna. You deserve much better and Artem as well.
You do realize we’re not the official DWTS site, right?
Seriously, the Sharna fanboard can cut the shit right now.
I don’t think Artem was because of a budget cut if that the case Val get more money then Artem right said and there other one been on long them Artem but it ok next year hope he come back I love watching Dancing with the star
I think back to some of the partners Sharna has had. Andy Dick, the military vet with one arm and leg (I’m so sorry I can’t remember his name, but he was amazing). She was not given very many obvious winners.
How quickly people forget. Sharna had Charlie White and Nick Carter – two of the biggest ringers of all time on the male side of the equation.