Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Hottest Takes on Dancing With the Stars

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Maksim Chmerkovskiy doesn’t have to be doing the salsa to get a little spicy.

Having been a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars for 17 seasons, he earned the Mirrorball Trophy once. However, he was best known for always speaking his mind, whether about the judges’ critiques or his celebrity partners’ performances.

In a 2024 interview with USA Today, he explained, “I believe there was a single public image of me, whether it was good or bad, and I own everything that contributed to it.”

Although he stopped appearing on the show regularly in 2017, the 45-year-old dad of three is still invested—his brother, Val Chmerkovskiy, is still competing in season 34 with his partner, Alix Earle—and he has a lot of opinions to share.

Recently, criticism has focused on Jan Ravnik, a new professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, who is paired with Jen Affleck. Some believe he shouldn’t be on the show at all.

On his wife Peta Murgatroyd’s podcast, The Penthouse With Peta, Maks Chmerkovskiy explained that he didn’t have anything against Janel Parrish personally. However, he felt her experience dancing on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour didn’t give her the specific skills needed to be a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars.

Maks expressed his frustration, saying there was a complete lack of basic teamwork, skill, and mutual understanding. He admitted he was upset, calling the situation ridiculous and unbelievable, and feeling like everyone was intentionally ignoring the obvious problems.

Jen clearly disagreed with something and was upset. A TikTok video from October 27th shows her rapidly typing on her phone, while Jan pretended to try and calm her down. An audio clip in the background urged her to remove the content, stating it didn’t align with their image or goals.

The video was captioned, “We don’t tolerate Jan slander in this house!!”

Before his performance on Dancing with the Stars on October 28th, Jan shared a rehearsal video on Instagram. He used the lyric “I’ll be the actress starring in your bad dreams” as the caption, hinting at the tone of his dance to Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”

So, consider that the pair’s response to Maks’ candor.

However, the winner of Dancing with the Stars season 18 is known for being outspoken, and his directness was a key reason fans loved watching him compete.

If you disagree with popular judge Len Goodman, expect to be seen as the bad guy.

Maks famously had a heated argument with judge Len Goodman on live television in October 2011. This happened while Maks was partnered with soccer star Hope Solo during season 13 of the show. Len had criticized Maks and Hope’s rumba as the “worst dance of the season,” which led Maks to challenge him, prompting Len to point out his 50 years of experience in ballroom dancing.

To which Maks fired back, “Maybe it’s time to get out.”

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba interjected, “Don’t be disrespectful like that.”

Backstage at Dancing with the Stars, Maks told co-host Brooke Burke, “I have to say, I feel like this show wouldn’t be what it is without my contributions.”

He explained to TopMob News that while most of his colleagues didn’t agree with him, a few actually approached the judges to apologize for his statements and express their disagreement with what he’d said.

Honestly, it was like he was finally getting better, and then people would say the complete opposite! It wasn’t even sad, it was just… infuriating! Like, yeah, everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I have one too, and it’s that he was doing great! It just felt like they weren’t even seeing it, and I was so frustrated for him!

Reflecting on what transpired the next day on Good Morning America, Maks doubled down.

He firmly stated he had no regrets and didn’t owe anyone an apology. He specifically didn’t apologize to Len or Carrie Ann, adding that she was free to express her disapproval however she pleased.

That incident, and all the tense interactions between Maks and Len that followed, really seemed like a long-running feud.

When Len Goodman died in 2023, Maks was deeply affected, along with the entire Dancing with the Stars family. He honored Len by performing in a moving tribute to the longtime judge.

Maks told USA Today last year that they never had any serious disagreements that needed to be discussed. They often played golf together and always got along well. He says he misses him.

But Maks didn’t just have daggers for Len at the judges’ table.

Following a critique from guest judge Abby Lee Miller about his rumba with Meryl Davis on season 18, professional dancer Maks told DWTS co-host Erin Andrews that he didn’t value her opinion.

The Dance Moms star felt Maks’ remark was disrespectful, but he ended up having the final victory by winning the Mirrorball Trophy with Meryl.

Meanwhile, despite their fourth-place finish, there was no love lost between Hope and Maks.

In her 2012 memoir, Solo, she claimed that Maks physically forced her during dance rehearsals, even saying he slapped her once to correct her posture. However, she chose not to report the incident, fearing it would ruin his career.

Okay, so Maks just had to post on X, and honestly, it felt like he was talking about someone specific. He said he’s always disliked people who are fake and dishonest, but when someone is all three – a hypocrite, a liar, and someone who just uses others – he actually feels bad for them. Like, he thinks they’re so desperate to get ahead, they’ll never truly succeed if it means hurting someone else. It’s just… Ugh, I’m obsessed with deciphering what he meant! It’s probably about her, right?

During a 2015 episode of the podcast Allegedly with Theo Von & Matthew Cole Weiss, Maks chose to eliminate Hope in a game of “Fk, Marry, Kill.”

He described the athlete as a terrible person. He explained that while everyone has a past and can come from difficult circumstances, those things don’t excuse someone choosing to be unkind or malicious. He believes there’s no justification for simply being a bad person.

Another pairing that took a turn after the fact: Maks and season 12 partner Kirstie Alley.

Maks and the actress reached the finals of a competition in 2011. However, in 2014, he stated that differences in their beliefs—she was a Scientologist and passed away in 2022—caused a strain on their friendship.

Maks explained on Watch What Happens Live that he and his former friend had a falling out. They used to be close, but she stopped speaking to him after he started spending time with people she disapproved of. He clarified that his issue isn’t with anyone’s beliefs – he himself is Jewish and doesn’t even believe in science fiction – he just doesn’t want to be judged for his own friendships.

He expressed sadness about everything they’d been through together, feeling he’d been supportive of her. Despite the current situation, he still has a lot of respect for her and genuinely hopes she finds happiness in the future.

Maks actually planned to quit Dancing with the Stars after the 15th all-star season, when he was paired with Kirstie again. He did come back to compete with Meryl in 2014, but his reason for leaving in the first place was pretty typical.

After 15 seasons, he wondered what more could be done, telling the New York Post as he was leaving, “It just makes sense.” He explained that both the audience and the show’s producers should understand why he wouldn’t want to continue. While he enjoyed his time on the show, he admitted that at 32, he felt it was time to focus on his own interests.

True to form, on the floor and off.

While Maks may have cornered the market on DWTS, see what started these other celebrity feuds:

In January 2024, Bobby addressed speculation about a disagreement with Tan, following his announcement in November 2023 that he was leaving Queer Eye after eight seasons. (Bobby is shown second from the left in the picture.)

He told Vanity Fair that he and Tan are doing okay despite a personal issue they’ve been dealing with. He emphasized that the situation is between the two of them and isn’t related to their show, and clarified it wasn’t a romantic matter—something that had been building up for a while.

In March 2024, Tan addressed claims that he tried to get his friend Jeremiah Brent to replace Bobby on the show Queer Eye.

We had a thorough search for the right actor, and my friend ultimately landed the role because they were the most qualified. I want to be clear, though, that I didn’t help them get the part by having anyone else removed from consideration, as I shared on Instagram.

After years of speculation about a disagreement, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty’s former co-star on Charmed, revealed in a December 2023 podcast episode that Alyssa Milano once demanded a show producer choose between her and Shannen. Combs claims this led to Shannen’s departure from the show in 2001.

In a February 2024 Instagram post, Alyssa stated she couldn’t get anyone fired and claimed that any current accounts of the events were simply inaccurate retellings of something that happened a long time ago.

Okay, so I was there at MegaCon Orlando, and Shannen said something that just… hit different. She was asked about all this stuff people are saying about the show, and she basically said, and I quote, “There’s no changing the truth as we lived it.” Like, she’s standing by her story, and honestly, it makes me feel so much better knowing she’s not letting anyone rewrite what really happened. It’s amazing, she’s the best!

Shannen passed away in July 2024 after a yearslong battle with cancer.

During a September 2023 game of “Stir the Pot” with her daughter, Kelly Osbourne, on TopMob News, Sharon Osbourne revealed that she considered Danny Masterson, known from “That ’70s Show,” to be the rudest celebrity she’d ever encountered. She described him as a very rude and unpleasant person.

He did not respond to her remarks publicly.

Five years ago, Sharon shared with Larry King that Ashton seemed upset during his 2014 appearance on The Talk after she mispronounced his name.

She remembered him asking, ‘Who are you and what have you accomplished in this business?’ Her response was blunt: ‘Don’t underestimate me, young man, because I’ll completely overwhelm you.’ She essentially told him, ‘You have no idea who you’re talking to.’

In August 2022, Cassadee Pope and Maren Morris publicly disagreed with Brittany Aldean, wife of country singer Jason Aldean. This followed a post Brittany made on Instagram on August 23rd, where she thanked her parents for not allowing her to transition during a phase where she preferred traditionally masculine interests, and expressed her appreciation for a feminine lifestyle.

As a lifestyle expert, I remember when JoJo Siwa shared a story on TikTok about a less-than-pleasant experience with Candace Cameron Bure. JoJo said Candace was the “rudest” celebrity she’d met, explaining it stemmed from a red carpet encounter where Candace didn’t take a photo with her. Thankfully, Candace quickly and sincerely apologized, admitting she’d unintentionally hurt JoJo’s feelings as an 11-year-old and saying she truly felt bad about it. It’s always good to see people addressing misunderstandings and offering genuine apologies!

Candace and the other person resolved their differences. However, when asked months later if her network, Great American Family, would ever feature same-sex couples as the main characters in its holiday films, she said it wouldn’t, explaining that the network would continue to focus on traditional marriage.

JoJo, who publicly shared they are part of the LGBTQ+ community in 2021, responded to the actress’ comment on Instagram, calling it “rude and hurtful to the entire LGBTQ+ community.”

In June 2021, Courtney Love claimed Olivia Rodrigo had copied the album cover art of her band, Hole, for a promotional photo without proper acknowledgment. Olivia responded with a supportive message, saying, “Love u and live through this sooooo much.” Courtney then playfully replied, “Olivia – you’re welcome! My favorite florist is in Notting Hill, London! DM me for details! I look forward to reading your note [winking face emoji].”

While on Watch What Happens Live, the Happy Days actor explained the reason for his difficult relationship with the Forrest Gump star while filming the 1989 movie Turner & Hooch.

I remember when I was directing that movie – it was going great for about thirteen days. Then, suddenly, I got called into Jeff Katzenberg’s office. He just told me I was done, that I had everything I needed and could go home. It was so abrupt!

Winkler and Hanks’ dog seemed to hit it off. “I really loved that dog,” Winkler said, “We got along great.”

He also refused to admit if he’s even seen the flick. 

“You know what you did!”

Anyone who watched The Hills probably remembers that famous line from Lauren, spoken at the beginning of season three. The drama started when Heidi began dating her future husband, Spencer Pratt. Things escalated when Lauren claimed Heidi and Spencer spread a false rumor about her and Jason Wahler, alleging she’d made a sex tape with him.

Tyrese and Dwayne Johnson had a public falling out after the release date for Fast & Furious 9 was delayed to April 2020. On the same day, a spin-off film featuring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham was announced, slated for release in 2019. Shortly after, Tyrese said he would leave Fast 9 if Dwayne Johnson remained involved.

Tyrese recently discussed the conflict with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, telling Van Lathan on The Red Pill podcast that they still haven’t spoken directly, though he hopes to. He did mention he spoke with one of Johnson’s producing partners, but not with Johnson himself.

Tyrese admitted he often ended up speaking for others connected to the film series, but he regretted being the only one to publicly share those opinions. ‘I take responsibility for that,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t professional, and it wasn’t the right thing to do.’

No more bad blood here.

Taylor Swift and Katy Perry had a long-running public disagreement, rumored to be the inspiration behind Swift’s song “Bad Blood.” The conflict, which began with issues over a shared dancer and competition during concert tours, was resolved when Perry sent Swift an olive branch as a peace offering before Swift’s Reputation Tour began.

I was so surprised when I walked into my dressing room and there was a real olive branch waiting for me! It honestly meant the world to me – it was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture.

Taylor captioned the video, “Thank you Katy.”

For years, Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker, stars of Sex and the City, successfully dismissed rumors of a disagreement. However, those rumors resurfaced when Kim chose not to participate in a third movie and later made some pointed comments about her co-star.

In a September 2017 episode of Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen asked Sarah Jessica Parker how she felt about Kim Cattrall telling Piers Morgan that they were never friends, only coworkers.

She said she was just devastated. They had talked about it all week, and she was really bothered because her memory of what happened was completely different.

It’s definitely sad, but I believe what truly connects us is the unique experience we all shared. It started as a professional project, but over the years, it became deeply personal, consuming a significant part of our lives. I’m hoping that strong connection will outweigh any recent disagreements. Being part of something special and seeing how it resonated with people was a real privilege.

And though they didn’t film scenes together, Kim did make a small appearance on And Just Like That.

 

Elton John and Madonna have been publicly disagreeing since 2004. During a speech at the Q Awards that year, he criticized Madonna, saying her live performances weren’t genuine. He famously said, “Madonna, best live act? That’s ridiculous!” and went on to express his strong disapproval of lip-syncing during concerts, suggesting performers who do it should face consequences given the cost of tickets.

The actress, formerly known for her role on Grey’s Anatomy, caused a disagreement with the show’s creator back in 2008 when she asked to be removed from Emmy Award consideration. She explained her decision by saying she didn’t believe the storylines she was given were strong enough to earn a nomination.

Shonda Rhimes discussed Katherine’s choice in a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey on Oprah’s Next Chapter. She admitted it was a little hurtful, but not entirely unexpected. “When people show you their true colors, pay attention,” Rhimes explained. “I’ve really taken that to heart, and it’s helped me a lot.”

The fight between Nicki and Cardi at the Harper’s Bazaar Icon party during New York Fashion Week made headlines everywhere. A month later, Cardi publicly explained what caused the argument with Nicki.

Cardi B told W magazine that someone has been repeatedly criticizing her. She explained that she’d talked to this person twice and thought they’d resolved the issue, but the criticism continued.

The conflict really escalated when Cardi B noticed Nicki Minaj had supposedly reacted to a tweet criticizing Cardi’s parenting, though Nicki claims she didn’t actually engage with it.

I was set to earn a lot of money from my Bruno Mars tour, but I chose to stay home with my daughter instead,” Cardi explained. “I love my daughter, and I’m a really good mom. It’s frustrating when people without kids criticize my choices. People say the party wasn’t the right place to see another artist, but I don’t expect to run into someone famous while I’m just out running errands.

The conflict between Kanye West and Taylor Swift began in 2009 when he interrupted her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. They later reconciled and became friends, but their relationship fell apart in 2016 after Kanye released his song “Famous,” which mentioned Taylor by name.

As a bit of a pop culture and social media observer, I found a recent online moment particularly interesting. Just before the Grammys in February 2025, Kanye West suddenly only followed Taylor Swift on Instagram. It was a very deliberate move, and he didn’t offer any explanation. Taylor, for her part, hasn’t publicly acknowledged it, leaving everyone wondering what it all means! It definitely got people talking, and I’m watching to see if anything further develops.

“I don’t know her.”

The supposed rivalry between Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez has been talked about for over 15 years. It began during an interview where Mariah was asked about other singers, and when asked about Jennifer, she famously said, “I don’t know her.”

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2025-10-28 22:19