Last week, “Good Morning America” host Lara Spencer appeared to mock Prince George for liking ballet.
Now, the widow of legendary dancer Gene Kelly is speaking out to slam Spencer for the segment.
Patricia Ward Kelly wrote an open letter to respond to Spencer for the segment, in which the host held back laughter as she talked about the 6 year-old royal taking ballet lessons.
“In 1958, my late husband, the dancer, director, choreographer Gene Kelly, decided to take on the stigma facing male dancers in an Omnibus television program for NBC that he created and starred in called ‘Dancing, A Man’s Game,'” wrote Ward Kelly.
“Gene would be devastated to know that 61 years after his ground-breaking work the issue of boys and men dancing is still the subject of ridicule—and on a national network.”
Ward Kelly went on to say that “ABC must do better.”
During the segment, Spencer discussed the curriculum George will be doing in school, where he will study science, history, religious studies, computer programming, poetry and ballet.
After she said ballet, some members of the audience started to laugh, as did Spencer and her cohost George Stephanoupolis. Spencer then said that Prince William had said that George “absolutely loves ballet.”
“I have news for you, Prince William: We’ll see how long that lasts,” she said. “I mean, he might.”
Backlash against Spencer was swift, as people from all over the world slammed her for her comments. She apologized the next day for her “insensitive comment.”
“My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday,” she said.
“From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say go for it. I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain-and love every minute of it.”
Here are the top 10 best Gene Kelly dance routines:
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