As someone who has been following Dancing with the Stars since its early seasons, I must say this latest drama between Bristol Palin and Maksim Chmerkovskiy brings back memories of the good ol’ days! It seems like every season had its share of behind-the-scenes drama that made the show even more entertaining.
Before ABC’s fall schedule reveals “Dancing with the Stars” 33rd season, old backstage drama is being revisited. Most notably, Bristol Palin, a previous contestant, made strong accusations against dance professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy. These allegations were significant enough to provoke a reaction from the choreographer.
What Bristol Palin Said
On the “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast hosted by Cheryl Burke, she conversed with the daughter of the ex-Alaskan governor regarding her experiences during Season 11 of the dance competition. The secret was revealed when Burke inquired about who would roll their eyes each time Palin and partner Mark Ballas were saved from elimination. According to the veteran of “Teen Mom OG”, it was a common occurrence among the contestants.
Ah, Maks. It seemed like he had such strong dislike towards me… Most likely due to our continued interactions. At first, he appeared quite pleasant, but as time passed, I could sense a growing tension from him. That detail slipped my mind. Yes, the more we progressed, the stronger that unease became, with each step feeling like, ‘Oh dear, here we go again.’
Instead of attributing the apparent hostility to anything personal about myself or my dance partner, I believe it came from the fact that I managed to progress in that season despite the intense criticism over my dancing abilities. Back then, fans speculated that my connection with Sarah Palin and her fanbase might have played a role in our continued success.
Despite being eliminated as the fourth pair during DWTS‘s all-star season in 2012, they managed to reach third place in their initial run. Meanwhile, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and partner Brandy ended up in fourth place. That year, Derek Hough and Jennifer Grey were the ones who won the Mirrorball trophy.
How Maksim Chmerkovskiy Responded
Despite remaining silent for the initial two days after the podcast episode became available, Maxim Chmerkovskiy later issued this statement to the New York Post through his representative:
1. It’s important to clarify that Maks never held any ill feelings towards Bristol, nor has he ever harbored hatred for anyone. The media may have exaggerated his ‘bad boy’ image during that period. However, Maks was exceptionally skilled in dancing and had a strong competitive spirit – traits vital for Dancing With the Stars. Unfortunately, Maks and Brandy were on track to win that season, but their victory came as a shock to both him and the American audience.
Although Maks didn’t affirm that he harbored hatred towards her at the time, it appears that lingering feelings may have existed, given the suggestion of his disappointment over their loss in the dance competition. However, it’s clear that he has moved past any resentment and doesn’t carry a grudge.
In a previous podcast, Cheryl Burke learned about the behind-the-scenes drama of Season 11 from her guest Damian Whitewood. Despite his successful partnership with Pamela Anderson during his first season, he wasn’t asked back for another season, even though there seemed to be no clear reasons for this. Whitewood believes that his past relationship with Peta Murgatroyd, who was subsequently invited back, may have played a role in this decision. Notably, Maks and Peta are currently an item.
As a former “Bachelorette” star, I’ve got some insights to share about fanbases – and trust me, I’ve been around both the “Dancing with the Stars” and the infamous “Bachelor Nation” crowds. Let me tell you, when it comes to vocal fans, nothing quite compares to the heat Bachelor Nation can bring! However, Charity Lawson has a different story to tell about her experience on “Dancing with the Stars.” It seems the fandom there was something else entirely – and not in a good way.
I’m hoping that no more unpleasant feelings come up from this incident, allowing everyone to continue their lives tranquilly. At least until Season 33 premieres on ABC and becomes available for streaming via Disney+ subscriptions starting on September 17. Right now, Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik is the only confirmed cast member, but we can expect more announcements in the upcoming weeks.
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2024-08-28 00:07