“Dancing With the Stars” is stomping all over Taryn Manning’s claims that she’s been asked “many times” to appear on the show but shot down the offers because it’s for “has-beens.” The ABC competition instead alleges that Manning’s team angled for her to join the series — but its dance card is full.
“Taryn claims she’s been asked to join the cast ‘many times,’ however, we have never asked Taryn to be part of the show,” a rep for the series said. “Her representation attempted to pitch her to us a while back and we kindly passed. So her claim that she was asked to join ‘DWTS’ once, never mind many times, is completely false.”
Manning made the claim while shooting footage to promote Gita — a rolling robot that “carries your stuff, so you can walk outdoors for local errands and trips instead of driving,” according to its Web site.
The “Orange Is the New Black” star shot the video in front of the “Brady Bunch” house and at another LA location. In the video, she discussed projects she’s working on and revealed, “I’ve been asked to be on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ many times. I have this weird phobia that [competing on the show] means you’re a has-been, and I never want to believe that’s the case.”
She added in the clip: “Maybe it’s my own stuff, but, yeah, I’m definitely a good dancer.”
“DWTS” kicked off its current season with Tyra Banks as its new host, plus a cast of celebrity contestants including Nelly, Anne Heche, Jeannie Mai, Jesse Metcalfe, Skai Jackson, AJ McLean and “Tiger King” star Carole Baskin.
In response to Manning’s “phobia,” the spokesperson replied: “Her thoughts that the contestants consist of ‘has-beens’ seems to be her own projection onto talent that we have asked to cast.” Past stars have included Wendy Williams, Sean Spicer, James Van Der Beek and Debbie Gibson.
A rep for Manning did not comment.