Billy Dee Williams is experiencing a lot of different emotions because his Dancing with the Stars journey abruptly ended due to his medical condition.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I'm sorry that I'm not going to be around, but my back just can't handle it," the 77-year-old Star Wars icon told People.
"My health is more important... [My] back is really hurting. [I've] been advised not to do surgery. I don't know what I'm going to do about it."
Williams -- who, with pro partner Emma Slater, had to withdraw from the reality dancing competition's eighteenth season -- said his "chronic back problem" was a result of doing film stunts for years.
But while his Dancing with the Stars experience only lasted two weeks, he said he had a blast and doesn't have any regrets.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I can't say it's not worth it. I did what I did and I had a good time and made a lot of money," the actor explained. "I wish I could continue."
Slater also told People she was well aware of Williams' back issue and tried to work around it in rehearsals.
"I knew the back was a problem for Billy," Slater noted.
"We were already kind of taking it slowly, but for me, surprisingly, this decision wasn't as difficult as it could have been because it really was the right thing to do. We made peace with that. We more directed it as a celebration of the time we've had together."
Williams and Slater landed at the bottom of the Dancing with the Stars judges' leaderboard in last place two weeks in a row before the Star Wars actor announced their withdrawal from the competition.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski