Want to know why Jason Gardiner left Dancing on Ice? The Australian choreographer is making headlines amid the “toxic culture” destroying everything. It has something to do with his sudden exit for the second time in 2019. What happened?
Jason Gardiner is a versatile choreographer who is mainly known for serving as the judge of Dancing on Ice. Hailing from Melbourne, Jason is also a theatre producer. In this field, some of his greatest works include- West Side Story, Anything Goes, Jack and the Beanstalk, Lady Be Good, Ruthless!, etc.
Not to forget to mention, Jason Gardiner has served as the judge of various TV shows, including- Strictly Dance Fever, Born to Shine, and Stepping Out. He even played various roles in the ITV show, This Morning. In 1998, Jason portrayed Alonzo in Cats.
Coming back to Jason Gardiner’s involvement with Dancing on Ice, the choreographer made it in and out of the show several times. However, his final move happened in 2019, and things seemed to be pretty serious back then.
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Reason Behind Jason Gardiner Leaving Dancing on Ice Explained
The major reason behind Jason Gardiner leaving Dancing on Ice was his feud with the producer. It turned very “toxic,” as shared by the choreographer himself. He failed to deal with it regularly and therefore decided to part ways with the show.
Concerning the toxicity, Jason shared that serving as the judge in Dancing on Ice affected his mental health too. He addressed the behavior of the producers as a “form of abuse.” Back in 2019, he had a live on-screen feud with Gemma Collins. The latter accused him of selling stories about her to the media. But Jason debunked the claim. He didn’t stop there but also thought of taking legal action against Gemma. This eventually started his ultimate fight with the ITV producers.
On this note, Jason Gardiner shared that the producers threatened to fire him from Dancing on Ice if he took legal action. The former judge also shared that they supported Gemma’s “unprofessional behavior.” To be more exact, she claimed that he bullied her and targeted her with “personal comments.” Not everyone knows that Jason reportedly compared Gemma to a refrigerator.
Jason Gardiner was very much disappointed and tired of the continuous abuse. However, he was supported too. But that was only for one reason. As a judge, he was always asked to do what he was doing because that brought enough audience and success to the show. It was very “difficult” and traumatic for Jason.
Talking more about the abusive behavior of the producers, it included death threats. It became so regular that he was afraid and tensed about his safety. As far as the decision to part ways from Dancing on Ice was concerned, Jason said that it was “an epiphanous moment” where he knew that if he went back, he would again release himself up to the same abuse.
After he departed from Dancing on Ice in mid-August 2019, Jason Gardiner shared that he never got any support for his mental health. He served for Dancing on Ice for more than a decade. So, the speculation about his sudden exit made enough sense.
For the very first time, Jason left Dancing on Ice in 2011. He was then replaced by Louie Spence. Again, he made his comeback to the show in 2013. His feud with his fellow judge, Karen Barber, also got highlighted.
Briefly, we may say that Jason Gardiner didn’t get fired but quit by himself. It was his decision, and he did it for his good. Everyone has the right to lead his life on his own terms. Best Wishes to Jason Gardiner. Make sure you follow the former Dancing on Ice judge, Jason, on his social media account for more updates.
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