Andy Richter Tearfully Reacts To Fans “Mad” About His DWTS Journey

Originally appeared on E! Online

Andy Richter is dancing away from his haters.

After his elimination on the Nov. 11 episode of Dancing With the Stars, the comedian shared that those making negative comments online regarding his time on the show were overshadowed by the love he had received from his castmates.

“I have to say the beautiful pros on this show made me feel that I belonged here and that I deserved to be here,” Andy told Joey Graziadei on the Nov. 12 episode of the official Dancing With the Stars podcast. “They said it so early and so often that I had no choice but to believe them.”

He continued, “It made all the people that were mad that I was still here absolutely insignificant because the people that know—which are the pros that are here—embraced me and made me feel so loved and so valuable to the whole thing.”

Andy, the oldest celebrity on the season at age 59, was ultimately the eighth contestant to face elimination, outlasting fellow stars like Danielle Fishel, Scott Hoying, Lauren Jauregui and more.

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Though many fans voiced frustrations seeing the Conan alum continue on in the competition, he emphasized that the pros not only made him feel like he had the right to still be there, but also that his presence was contributing to the success of the show.

“I didn’t feel like, ‘Oh I’m like this kind of charity case that they’re helping along,'” Andy explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you’re a member of the team that is keeping this show, that is making the show a juggernaut that’s getting more votes than ever.”

And that positivity meant the world to him. As he put it to the season 33 winner, “I just couldn’t feel more gratitude to just the beautiful people on this show.”

After his elimination was announced during the 20th birthday party-themed episode, he shared he felt “like a winner” regardless.

“It’s changed my life,” he shared with host Alfonso Ribeiro as he stood by Emma at the end of the episode. “I’m a different person because of this show and because of this woman right here. None of this would have happened without her.”

For more of the season 34 DWTS contestants who have either been sent home or are still on the road to the Mirrorball, read on.

Baron Davis