Dancing with the Stars has become a staple of ABC programming over the years, and seasons are rarely without tension and/or drama among the dancers. A brand new batch of celebrity contestants have taken the stage for Season 25, and rumor has had it that not everything has been going well between Vanessa Lachey and her professional dancing partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Now, Chmerkovskiy has spoken out about the rumored feud, saying this:
[Things] were never bad. It's a tough show. And when you're good enough to make it all the way, you go through that much more stuff. We're a great couple. We're doing our best. She's giving me all the time that she should, and I can't wait for this Monday to show what we've been working on.
Rumors started earlier in Season 25 when sources reported "big fights" between Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and the case only got more complicated when Chmerkovskiy skipped a performance with Lachey, forcing her to partner with previously-eliminated dancer Alan Bersten for the week. The reason Chmerkovskiy gave for his absence was "personal issues" and he even posted a public apology on social media, but it wasn't enough to stop many from wondering if there was more going on behind the scenes than anybody was admitting to at the time.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy addressed the issue directly to reporters (via People) at the 2017 Maxim Halloween Party, and his comments indicate the two have faced some tough times due to the competitive nature of the series but there was never any bad blood between them. It's too early to say if his comments will be enough to stop the speculation; we may have to wait and see how long Chmerkovskiy and Vanessa Lachey remain in the competition. They have yet to be eliminated.
All things considered, it's not difficult to understand why some might wonder if something was wrong between Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his latest partner on Dancing with the Stars. He has appeared in fifteen seasons of the series, and he hasn't been quiet about some of his issues with a previous partner. He was very open about how much he disliked working with pro soccer player Hope Solo on Dancing with the Stars, using some pretty shocking language to describe her. For her part, Solo accused Chmerkovskiy in a book of slapping her during rehearsals. Basically, Chmerkovskiy is no stranger to behind-the-scenes drama.
Hopefully he and Vanessa Lachey will be able to continue dancing without drama for the rest of their time in Season 25. One of the competing couples just so happens to be comprised of Lachey's husband and Chmerkovskiy's wife, so it should be fun to see if they go head to head as the weeks pass. New episodes of Dancing with the Stars air on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Don't forget to check out our fall TV guide.
