In a surprising twist for the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars," former NFL player Adrian Peterson has been cast as a contestant. However, this decision has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows among fans and even some of the show's own alumni.

Sharna Burgess, a former "Dancing with the Stars" pro, expressed her shock and disappointment on her podcast, "Old-ish." During the latest episode, she specifically called out Peterson and questioned his suitability for the show. Burgess brought up the disturbing incident in 2014 when Peterson was charged with felony child abuse for allegedly spanking his four-year-old son with a switch.

The boy suffered cuts and bruises all over his body as a result of the punishment. Peterson's actions drew significant backlash and led to a one-year suspension in the NFL. Despite facing consequences for his actions, Peterson admitted in a 2018 interview with the Bleacher Report that he still uses a belt to discipline his son.

Burgess expressed her devastation at Peterson's casting, stating, "The man has been charged with child abuse of his four-year-old son in the way that he punishes him, and that is just devastating for me." As a mother herself, she claimed that she would not be able to work with Peterson and would walk out of the room if he were her partner.

This controversy surrounding Peterson's involvement in the show is not the first time he has faced legal trouble. Last February, he was arrested after an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred on a flight to Houston. The plane had been forced to turn around after a verbal and physical altercation between Peterson and his wife, Ashley Peterson. Despite these incidents, the couple announced in May that they were expecting their third child together.

Peterson has been assigned to dance with "Dancing with the Stars" pro Britt Stewart for the upcoming season. However, fans have expressed their disapproval of this pairing, flooding Stewart's Instagram account with negative comments. It remains to be seen how Peterson's presence on the show will unfold and whether or not the controversy surrounding him affects his performance or reception by the audience.