Selma Blair leaves ‘Dancing With the Stars’ citing health concerns related to MS
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Samantha Barksdale, LaShawn Barber, and Lea Black will also be making their final appearances.
“We are looking forward to these amazing stars who will continue to be the very best ambassadors for the art of dance,” said the CEO of Dance Central, Lenny Kravitz, referring to the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.
The show, which will be broadcast on ABC, will be the most popular non-sporting televised dance competition next year, according to the TV Guide Network.
“Dancing With the Stars has been and will continue to be a true testament to the artistry, talent and dedication of the cast. We are excited to welcome these accomplished artists to our team of talented professionals,” said Kravitz.
The show’s first season will be the most-watched ever, surpassing Season 1 of The Voice and the final episode of Dancing with the Stars in viewership.
Barksdale is best known for starring on the reality competition series MTV’s “The Real World.” She has performed on stage with Beyoncé, John Legend and Christina Perri among others.
The “American Idol” judge and television superstar said she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2014. She’s the first person to ever compete on the show who has the diagnosis.
“The reality of having this disease is, you live with it,” she said during the 2015 season on The Real World, according to E! News.
“There’s no cure, but you can live with your disease and come out the other side,” she said.
A total of 20 celebrities will compete on the show’s second season.