Betty White was warned her show would be canceled—she took a stand anyway

Everyone knows Betty White as a national treasure—a woman whose wit, charm, and comedic timing made her beloved for generations. But beyond her delightful personality, she was also a woman of principle. When it came to the things that truly mattered, she didn’t just entertain—she took a stand.

That was never more evident than in the 1950s when she refused to remove a Black tap dancer, Arthur Duncan, from The Betty White Show, despite racist backlash. At a time when segregation was still deeply entrenched, White was pressured to drop Duncan. Her response?

Arthur Duncan performed on the Lawrence Welk Show and the Betty White show. Public Domain

"I'm sorry, but he stays... Live with it!" she reportedly told critics, as per PEOPLE.

White had given Duncan his television debut, and she wasn’t about to let racism dictate who got a chance to shine.

"I was on the show, and they had some letters out of Mississippi and elsewhere that some of the stations would not carry the show if I was permitted to stay on there."

— Arthur Duncan

Even though television was still in its early days, White was already a seasoned performer, having worked in radio, sitcoms, and live TV. The Betty White Show was a variety program featuring skits, musical numbers, and interviews. But when complaints rolled in about Duncan’s presence, she didn’t flinch. Instead, she doubled down and gave him even more airtime.

Speaking on Steve Harvey's Little Big Shots: Forever Young in 2017, Duncan recalled how White backed him despite pressure from Southern stations. "Well, Betty wrote back and said, 'Needless to say, we used Arthur Duncan every opportunity we could.'"

The show didn’t last much longer—it was canceled in 1954, the same year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled school segregation unconstitutional. While it’s unclear if her defiance played a role in the show’s cancellation, it’s clear White never regretted her decision.

"I credit Betty White for really getting me started in show business. People in the South, some of them resented me being on the show and wanted me thrown out. And it was never a question at all."

— Arthur Duncan

Duncan went on to become the first Black regular on a variety show, joining The Lawrence Welk Show for two decades. Decades later, Steve Harvey reunited him with White in an emotional moment. Looking at her, Duncan joked, "I'm ready to go now," before performing a tap routine just for her.

White later reflected on the controversy in the 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television. "All through the South there was this whole ruckus, they were going to take the show off the air if we didn't get rid of Arthur because he was Black," she said. "I said, 'I'm sorry, but he stays... Live with it!'"

"Oh, I hope so. You never call. You never ask me out."

— Betty White, joking with Arthur Duncan during their reunion

Betty White was America’s sweetheart, but when something truly mattered, she didn’t hesitate to take a stand. She remained a beloved icon until her passing on December 31, 2021, just weeks before her 100th birthday. Her legacy—as both an entertainer and a person of integrity—lives on.