Home / Arts and Entertainment / Maks Apologizes to Jan After Criticizing His 'DWTS' Qualifications
Maks Apologizes to Jan After Criticizing His 'DWTS' Qualifications
31 Oct
Summary
- Maks Chmerkovskiy questioned Jan's lack of ballroom dance experience as a 'DWTS' pro
- Maks later apologized to Jan and invited him for coffee to discuss the issue
- Louis van Amstel agrees with Maks' assessment but says Jan had no choice but to accept the 'DWTS' role
On October 31, 2025, former 'Dancing with the Stars' (DWTS) pro Maks Chmerkovskiy faced backlash for criticizing current DWTS pro Jan's qualifications. Maks had appeared on his wife Peta Murgatroyd's podcast, where he questioned how Jan, a 30-year-old with no ballroom dance experience, landed a spot as a professional dancer on the show.
However, Maks later took to TikTok to publicly apologize to Jan and express his hope that they could become friends. Louis van Amstel, a DWTS alum and the creator of LaBlast Fitness, agreed with Maks' assessment of Jan's lack of ballroom experience and teaching expertise. But van Amstel also stated that Jan would have been "stupid" to turn down the opportunity to be a DWTS pro, even if he lacked the necessary qualifications.
Despite the controversy, van Amstel is excited to return to the DWTS ballroom for the show's 20th Birthday Party episode on November 11, 2025. He has previously danced with several contestants, including Trista Sutter, Lisa Rinna, and Niecy Nash, with his most memorable partnership being with Kelly Osbourne in season 9.
