Maks Chmerkovskiy Calls Out 'DWTS' Dancer

The glittering world of "Dancing with the Stars" has been rocked by a blistering blast of controversy sparked by one veteran dancer's raw, emotional takedown of the show's newest pro.

On October 24, 2025, former "DWTS" favorite Maksim Chmerkovskiy stunned fans when he unleashed a fiery tirade on his wife Peta Murgatroyd's podcast, "The Penthouse with Peta." During their conversation about the reality competition's latest episode, he targeted the newest addition to the pro lineup: Jan Ravnik.

What followed was a no-holds-barred verbal lashing that has now exploded into a viral firestorm, igniting heated debates over talent, training, and what it truly means to be a professional on one of America's most beloved dance stages.

'There's Zero Foundation, Technique, Quality...'

Chmerkovskiy definitely didn't hold back while emphasizing just how much this competition means to true dancers. He insisted that he, his wife, and other pros had earned their place among the celebrities. But one person allegedly hadn't.

"Bro, I can't. I'm sorry," he continued, clearly worked up. "Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on 'Dancing with the Stars.' There's zero foundation, technique, quality, understanding of the partnership. Bro, I'm getting emotional."

But Chmerkovskiy didn’t stop there. In fact, he doubled down.

"It is absurd, and this is unreal how blind we have to be, and god forbid, say what's obviously there. He had no idea what foxtrot is supposed to look like," he continued, just as intensely.

From Pop Stardom to Ballroom Breakdown

Before landing the "DWTS" gig, Ravnik had built a name as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift on her blockbuster The Eras Tour. For season 34, he was paired with Jen Affleck, a reality star from "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives."

Their foxtrot performance aired on the October 21 episode titled "Wicked Night," and it’s that routine that seems to have lit the fuse under Chmerkovskiy's scathing criticism.

He questioned how producers could possibly expect a celebrity like Affleck to learn from someone with no real ballroom expertise. He and Murgatroyd had already raised doubts weeks earlier, but one performance from Ravnik made them believe things would be alright.

Until the foxtrot performance.

"Jan, whoever he is, I have zero against him whatsoever," he said, visibly frustrated, "No way. This was a missed opportunity."

At that moment, Murgatroyd stepped in, pointing out that Affleck may be at a serious disadvantage on the show, not because of her own limitations, but because she wasn’t paired with a trained ballroom expert.

And yet, she also reminded her husband and listeners that the show hired Ravnik in the end. She also called him "lovely."

Still, online reaction was swift and intense, and fans wasted no time sounding off.

Internet Meltdown: Jealousy or Justified Rage?

Some weren’t buying what the veteran pro was selling. One unimpressed fan accused, "Hmm!! Sounds like someone’s jealous….." Another echoed the sentiment, "Make [sic] is crazy and maybe jealous. Jan is gorgeous and a great dancer!"

A simple supporter declared, "Jan is great!" And one person offered a snarky clapback, "It’s his first season…give him a minute… and Max envy green is not a good look [sic]."

Fans Fire Back in Support of Chmerkovskiy

But not everyone was on Ravnik's side. In fact, many rallied behind the veteran pro, agreeing that something felt off with the casting. One fan speculated, "He was hired because he danced for Taylor Swift. Probably to up the ratings or maybe TS fans would start watching. The Taylor effect like the NFL."

Another supporter said firmly, "I agree with Maks. I’m not impressed with him."

The criticism sharpened further, as one netizen wrote, "He's correct. People just can't separate facts from feelings. The fact is he has no Ballroom experience or training or technique.. Which is the point of the show. They hired him because he would be a ratings draw because he's a Swifty dancer [sic]."

And another person continued, "Jan is definitely not a Pro. He is not refined like the others. Agree 💯 with @maksimc."

One final viewer delivered the knockout blow, "I watched the podcast and 100% agree. Jan was not trained in ballroom. Maks is correct Jen is at a total disadvantage by not having a ballroom pro [sic]."