Derek Hough supports Jan Ravnik after Maks Chmerkovskiy’s comments
Dancing with the stars subtly introducing online drama Maks Chmerkovskiy And Jan Ravnik into the ballroom during Halloween Night on Tuesday, October 28.
Derek Hough seemed to refer to the ongoing beef in Jan and his partner’s offering, Jen Affleckfeedback after their contemporary routine to “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift.
“John, first of all,” Hough stared. “I want to tell you, my man, that you are having a fantastic first season.”
Before Tuesday’s terrifying episode, Chmerkovskiy, 45, shared his strong opinions on Ravnik, 30, who made his debut as DWTS pro when season 34 started in September.
“Dancing with the stars is a global phenomenon. … I’m sorry, Jan definitely doesn’t have to be a professional Dancing with the stars”, Chmerkovskiy claimed to his wife Peta Murgatroyd‘s podcast ‘The Penthouse With Peta’. “There is no basic technique, quality, understanding of the partnership. Bro, I’m getting emotional. It’s absurd, and this is unreal how blind we have to be and God forbid we say what is clear.”
Chmerkovskiy specifically pointed out Ravnik’s foxtrot with the Secret Lives of Mormon Women star on Wicked Night as an example, claiming Ravnik had “no idea” of the style’s technique. Chmerkovskiy argued that he cast Ravnik, one of Swift’s dancers The Eras tour – was “a missed opportunity” for Affleck.
“[It’s a] big disadvantage,” he claimed.[Jen] has no partner. … It’s not his fault.”
Murgatroyd, 39, agreed that “hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach ballroom dancing to a celebrity as a job” was an “outrageous” decision, but she praised Ravnik as a “nice guy” and “great dancer.”
While the couple’s snappy shots made headlines, Affleck came to her partner’s defense as she rehearsed for their modern-day Halloween routine. “We will not tolerate slander from Jan in this house!! @Jan Ravnik @Dancing with the Stars #DWTS,” she captioned a TikTok video on Monday, October 27.
In the clip, Affleck was seen typing on her phone while Ravnik listened to a popular TikTok audio, saying, “Take it away. Take it away. Take it away. We want it gone. That doesn’t represent me or what we need to do.”
Carrie Ann Inaba vs. Bachelor Nation! Amber Rose vs. Julianne Hough! And Maksim Chmerkovskiy versus… everyone! The Dancing With the Stars ballroom is no stranger to a feud. The ABC competition’s cast and judges have gotten heated over the years. Chmerkovskiy, for his part, came into conflict with some of them […]
Affleck added another caption to the images: “Me when someone talks about Jan.”
Ravnik is not the only professional who, according to Chmerkovskiy, still has room for improvement. He also argued Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying was “fully taught” by the partner Rylee Arnold before their elimination on Wicked Night.
“His arms were down, he wasn’t clear with his movement. It wasn’t polished, it wasn’t finished. It wasn’t Scott who we expected because he’s better than this,” Chmerkovskiy said on the podcast. “This was not his best dance and it was the last dance he did.”
Chmerkovskiy insisted he wasn’t “digging” the 20-year-old Arnold, who he said gave a “spectacular” performance. “She looked amazing. This dress was incredible,” he continued. “She looked great from the first moment. Afraid, look, I get goosebumps. It was great. But Rylee, honey, it’s not your job to be that. Your job is to make sure he is. And I didn’t see it in her.”
Jan Ravnik and Jen Affleck couldn’t have picked a more fitting song for Dancing With the Stars’ Halloween Night. Ravnik, 30, gave his Instagram followers a sneak peek at his rehearsals for the Tuesday, Oct. 28, episode, as he and Affleck prepare to perform a contemporary dance to Taylor Swift’s hit song “Look What You” […]
Ahead of the podcast drama, Chmerkovskiy and Murgatroyd opened up exclusively We weekly about who they think has the best chance of winning the season 34 Mirrorball trophy.
“I have my hands down Robert Irwin And Witney [Carson],” Murgatroyd said Us at Dancers Against Cancer’s 2025 Gala of the Stars earlier this month. ‘One thousand percent. I’m not saying he’s the most technical dancer.’ Whitney Leavitt for me is by far the best dancer of the season. She is absolutely phenomenal. But I believe Robert Irwin will win.”
Chmerkovskiy partly agreed and also cast his younger brother as a possible candidate. “I think it will be a battle between Robert and Witney and I think so Fall [Chmerkovskiy] And Alex [Earle] I’m going to take it,” Maks said Us. “Because there’s also a huge TikTok component. You’ve got some fans here and you’ve got some fans here. You’ve got some core fans of Dancing with the stars, but there has also been a very big impact among TikTok fans.”
Dancing with the stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8pm ET, with new episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.
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