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.

Murgatroyd, a two-time mirrorball champion, also addressed the issue, defending her spouse's comments but acknowledging 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.

Despite the backlash, Chmerkovskiy and Murgatroyd, along with fellow DWTS alum Sharna Burgess, continued to analyze the performances from the show's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night. Chmerkovskiy admitted that he sometimes comes across as "that guy" when watching the show with non-dancers, but he maintained that his feedback is rooted in his expertise and passion for the art form.