Maks Chmerkovskiy calls out Jan Ravnik’s ‘absurd’ ‘DWTS’ casting: ‘No business being a pro’
Maks Chmerkovskiy is calling out “Dancing With the Stars” for casting Jan Ravnik as a pro dancer on the hit dance competition series.
“I’m sorry, Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on ‘Dancing with the Stars,'” the Season 18 mirrorball champion said on wife Peta Murgatroyd’s “The Penthouse With Peta” podcast last Friday.
“There’s zero foundation technique, quality, understanding of the partnership. Bro, I’m getting emotional,” he continued.
“It is absurd, and this is unreal how blind we have to be and God forbid say what’s obviously there.”
Chmerkovskiy attempted to substantiate his claims by using Ravnik’s choreography for last Tuesday’s “Wicked Night” as an example.
He was clearly not impressed with the routine Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour dancer created for his pro partner, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Jen Affleck.
“He had no idea what foxtrot is supposed to look like,” the Latin–ballroom dance champion, 45, claimed.
“How are you going to expect him to teach it and deliver that message in a format that is completely different from even ballroom dancing? We had this criticism weeks ago, and I’m like, ‘Bro, is anybody going to explain it to him?'” he added.
Chmerkovskiy said he has no personal vendetta against Ravnik but is more upset about his hiring.
“Jan, whoever he is, I have zero against him whatsoever,” he confessed. “No way, this was a missed opportunity.”
Murgatroyd, who has won “DWTS” twice, said Affleck, 26, “has a major disadvantage” in the ABC dance competition because Ravnik is leading her weekly.
“I feel bad because she’s not getting taught the basics that she needs to,” she claimed. “She’s not getting taught the base of the dance.”
The “Faith, Hope & Love” actress alleged that Ravnik was only cast due to his ties with Swift.
“They hired him. He’s a Taylor Swift dancer. It’s the obvious reason why he is hired,” she claimed.
“Apart from that, he’s a lovely guy. He looks great. He obviously is a great dancer. Hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach ballroom dancing to a celebrity as a job is outrageous.”
Page Six has reached out to reps for both Ravnik and ABC but did not immediately hear back.
Jenelle Evans’ 16-Year-Old Son Jace Gives Rare Update on How He’s Doing Since Moving Back to North Carolina
Jenelle Evans’ teenage son Jace took to social media recently to let fans know that he’s doing well, more than two months after his mom sent him (back) to North Carolina to live with his grandmother
As The Ashley previously reported, Jace is currently on probation (and had it transferred from Nevada to North Carolina after his move), and has to do regular drug tests and check-ins with his probation officer. The ‘Teen Mom’ kid was happy to report that things are going well for him.
“Monthly [checkup],” the 16-year-old posted to his Instagram Story over the weekend, along with a selfie. “[I’m] doin good y’all.”
As The Ashley previously told you, the former Teen Mom 2
Jace has spoken out about his mom a couple times since relocating from Las Vegas to North Carolina, including in September, when he claimed that Jenelle had blocked him on social media. (While Jace is currently following his mom on Instagram, Jenelle does not appear to be following him back at the moment.)
Last month, Jace posted a photo and quote to his Instagram, which some fans interpreted to be a reference to the teen’s ongoing situation.
“As the night gets dark, let your worries fade,” he wrote. “Sleep peacefully knowing you’ve done all you can do for today.”
Jace’s post went on to receive quite a few supportive comments from ‘Teen Mom 2’ fans, many of whom encouraged the teen to “stay strong.”
Earlier this month, Jenelle surprisingly had some positive things to share with fans about her son during an Instagram Q&A, despite (literally) laughing during a Twitch livestream the previous month over the fact that Jace was “going through it” with Barbara in North Carolina.
When asked how Jace was doing earlier this month, however, Jenelle claimed that her son was “actually doing very well,” even adding that she’s “proud of him.”
(Jenelle spoke about her son on social media shortly after returning from a trip to North Carolina, where she visited her ailing mother and saw Jace as well.)
As The Ashley previously told you, Jace has been thriving since moving back to North Carolina.
“He has a job, is keeping up with his probation and doing his online school,” The Ashley’s source claimed.
