What did Maks Chmerkovskiy say about the current DWTS pros?

Maks Chmerkovskiy, a former DWTS champion, criticized the performance and experience levels of current pros Jan Ravnik and Rylee Arnold, stating that they still had room for improvement despite their talent.

How did Peta Murgatroyd respond to Maks Chmerkovskiy's comments?

Peta Murgatroyd, Maks' wife and a two-time DWTS champion, defended his comments but acknowledged that they may have come across more harshly than intended. She emphasized that their goal was to provide professional ballroom dancer perspectives, not personal attacks.

What did Maks Chmerkovskiy do after facing backlash for his remarks?

Maks Chmerkovskiy apologized for his comments, saying he never meant to hurt the feelings of the pros he criticized. He expressed a desire to discuss the matter further with them over coffee or any other time they had available.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / DWTS Alum Maks Chmerkovskiy Apologizes for Controversial Critiques

DWTS Alum Maks Chmerkovskiy Apologizes for Controversial Critiques

7 Nov

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Summary

Maks Chmerkovskiy returned to wife Peta Murgatroyd's DWTS recap podcast
Chmerkovskiy criticized pros Jan Ravnik and Rylee Arnold's lack of experience
Chmerkovskiy apologized for his remarks, saying they were not meant to offend

DWTS Alum Maks Chmerkovskiy Apologizes for Controversial Critiques

On November 7, 2025, former Dancing with the Stars champion Maks Chmerkovskiy returned to his wife Peta Murgatroyd's DWTS recap podcast. However, his commentary did not come without controversy. Chmerkovskiy, 45, criticized the performance of current pros, stating that dancer Whitney Leavitt, despite being "one of the most next-level dancers we've ever seen," still had room for improvement.

This was not the first time Chmerkovskiy had stirred up controversy with his critiques. In a previous episode, he had specifically called out pros Jan Ravnik and Rylee Arnold for their apparent lack of experience in the ballroom. While neither Ravnik nor Arnold responded directly, Chmerkovskiy later apologized, saying he never intended to cause any offense.