Jaleel White Accuses ‘DWTS’ Of ‘Exploiting’ Him While Filming

Family Matters actor Jaleel White’s memories of Dancing With The Stars aren’t at all happy. His new memoir, Growing Up Urkel, explores many previously unknown details about the actor’s personal life and experiences behind the scenes.

See what he had to say about competing and the emotional turmoil it brought him.

Former Child Actor Jaleel White Had A Rough Time On DWTS

Jaleel White, widely known for his role as Steve Urkel on Family Matters, never really wanted to do Dancing With The Stars. But his manager pushed him to join Season 14 back in 2012. He and pro dancer Kym Johnson finished in 7th place out of 12 couples.

“He said it was a great opportunity- the show pays well and it would get my name back on prime time,” White wrote in his book. He immediately knew the producers wanted him to act goofy and ridiculous based on his background as the iconic Urkel, but he wasn’t interested.

“I was supposed to flop around that stage like a fish out of water because I had played a character like that on TGIF,” the actor recalled. He also compared his appearance to Alfonso Ribeiro’s successful run on Season 19. The Fresh Prince actor won the Mirrorball Trophy because he bent to the producers’ will, according to White.

According to The Sun, DWTS producers felt angry he wouldn’t act like “the Black version of Andy Dick.”

During the season, Jaleel White was involved in a tense custody battle over his young daughter. His frustration boiled over in the rehearsal room, leading to a verbal altercation with Kym Johnson. DWTS producers also asked leading questions about his feelings, leaving the actor feelings completely exploited and vulnerable.

“This kind of calculated manipulation brought me to a breaking point,” White continued in the book, noting how he started to cry on camera. “I didn’t want to give them Urkel on the dance floor, and I damn sure didn’t want to give these producers a chance to exploit my personal pain for entertainment.”

Reginald VelJohnson Didn’t Ask His Coster For DWTS Advice

Jaleel White’s Family Matters costar, Reginald VelJohnson, starred on DWTS Season 33 this year. Before the season kicked off, VelJohnson said he wouldn’t be asking White for tips.

“I haven’t talked to anybody. … I wanna do my own thing,” he told Us Weekly. “If I fall, I fall. If I don’t, I don’t. And it’s on me, not anybody else.”

Were you surprised to learn that Jaleel White didn’t love competing on Dancing With The Stars? Add your own thoughts and ideas to the comments below.

Catch the season finale at 8 PM Eastern time this Tuesday night on ABC.