Secret jealousy tearing apart Dancing with the Stars cast: No one is safe as dancers dish dirt on partners they pretend to like on TV… and new feuds emerge

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The performers repeatedly fell to the floor – over and over – as they practiced a difficult partner cartwheel during rehearsals this week.

Maybe Dancing with the Stars professional Val Chmerkovskiy and social media personality Alix Earle should see their struggles as a warning: they may not be strong enough to win the competition.

Despite the cheerful public image they present – with smiling faces and sweet comments on TikTok – a source says Chmerkovskiy is actually feeling ‘demoralized’ about his current partnership.

Rumor has it, the professional dancer is privately hoping he’d been teamed up with a more popular celebrity than Earle, 24, who is known on social media. This worry is also affecting his co-star Gleb Savchenko, as he’s partnered with Hilaria Baldwin (we’ll discuss her shortly).

Maks Chmerkovskiy, 39, has also been concerned about his wife, Jenna Johnson – who also dances on DWTS – as she was the first contestant eliminated last week, alongside her partner, Corey Feldman. Last week also saw the departure of former NBA player Baron Davis and Britt Stewart.

According to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail, Chmerkovskiy and Johnson reportedly felt this season of the show was always going to be difficult to win. They apparently believed it was an ‘unwinnable season’ for them.

The Daily Mail had previously reported that Johnson, 31, was feeling discouraged after partnering with Feldman, 54. Sources said she was having trouble dealing with his lack of motivation and limited dancing skills. Her brother-in-law, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, publicly shared the challenges she was experiencing, insisting she receive the respect she’s earned. He emphasized the difficulty she was facing.

‘Everyone’s really been struggling this season,’ a source told us. ‘It just hasn’t been as fun as usual. There’s a lack of excitement this year, and it’s difficult to say exactly why. We’ve definitely had odd, unmotivated, or controversial contestants in the past – that’s always been part of the show. But for some reason, this particular group isn’t clicking.’

I’ve been following Val and Jenna’s journey closely, and honestly, it’s tough to watch when a partner isn’t fully committed. They understand that not everyone is an Olympic-level athlete – a gymnast or skater, for example – and that’s perfectly okay! But it’s really disheartening when someone just isn’t putting in the effort. They’re really trying to be gracious and avoid being poor sports, but this season has definitely taken a toll on both of them. It’s left a bit of a stain on their spirits, and you can really see it. They’re hoping for a more positive experience next time, and we’re all rooting for them!

Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who was born in Ukraine, began appearing on the show in 2006 and has claimed victory three times. He first won with Rumer Willis in 2015, then with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez in 2016, and most recently with actress Xochitl Gomez in 2023. However, according to a source close to the show, he believes winning a fourth time with his current 24-year-old partner is unlikely.

‘Alix is fine… but he’s jealous of the contestants who have great attitudes,’ our insider said.

People watching the show have noticed a seeming disconnect between the influencer and Chmerkovskiy, and some viewers are finding Earle difficult to warm up to. Last week, one person shared on Reddit: ‘It seems like Alix and Val have no chemistry, and I can sense some tension.’

I noticed something that’s been bothering me, and I’m not alone, apparently. Someone else pointed out that Val and Alix just don’t seem to have much of a connection. It’s really noticeable when you compare them to the other couples, who all seem genuinely into each other. Val and Alix just… exist together, and it feels a little awkward, honestly. I’m hoping they can find some chemistry, but it’s definitely lacking right now.

Some people believe that Earle’s anxiety – which she has discussed frankly – might be making her feel nervous.

Regardless, reports suggest that Chmerkovskiy would rather be partnered with actress Danielle Fishel. Even though she injured her hamstring, Fishel persevered and earned a 19 out of 30 for her Cha Cha with Pasha Pashkov last week – only two points lower than the score Chmerkovskiy and Earle received.

‘Danielle Fishel and Elaine Hendrix might not be the eventual winners, but they’re enjoying the competition, and so are their partners,’ a source revealed. ‘The professional dancers also think those contestants are really appealing.’

It seems Danielle is the most likely candidate to succeed. And Val would have really enjoyed working with her as a partner.

The Daily Mail is also told it’s not just Chmerkovskiy who isn’t thrilled with his pairing. 

Professional competitor Savchenko, age 42, is apparently beginning to wonder if facing off against Hilaria Baldwin, the wife of actor Alec Baldwin, was the right choice.

Even though he appreciates that the yoga instructor and social media personality has genuine ballroom dancing background, he’s reportedly worried that public disapproval of her might jeopardize his chances of winning. He’s been hoping for ten years to win the highly prized Mirrorball Trophy.

Following the votes from last week, he was surprised to find out that Baldwin wasn’t popular with all the viewers, according to an insider who spoke with the Daily Mail. It really highlights that dancing skill isn’t the most important thing-it’s the audience’s votes that determine who stays in the competition and who goes home.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following their progress, and last week they really shone! They earned a score of 21 out of 30 with their tango. That’s a fantastic improvement – a full seven-point increase from the 14 they got during week one for their Cha Cha. It just goes to show how much they’ve grown!

Being eliminated early would be devastating for Gleb, as winning has been his lifelong dream since he started competing on DWTS. However, gaining the support of the viewers is a real challenge – particularly because Baldwin has already annoyed them in the three weeks since the season began.

Initially, she was asked about why she had started using a Spanish accent again during a recent interview with GMA. (Back in 2020, Baldwin faced accusations of pretending to be Spanish, as she was born Hillary Hayward-Thomas in a wealthy area of Boston, but had been presenting herself as having Spanish roots.)

She faced criticism again last week, this time for seemingly giving the impression that she was okay with viewers making fun of her competitors. This happened after she seemed to approve of a negative comment about them on social media.

One Reddit user posted, ‘I haven’t noticed any of the other celebrities on the show supporting comments that criticize the dancers or question the show’s legitimacy just because someone didn’t receive higher scores,’ on the platform.

Someone else mentioned: ‘I was willing to give her a chance, even knowing about her background in dance, but this is really bothering me.’

For now, all Savchenko can do is hope for a great routine on Tuesday.

There’s certainly a lot more pressure this week. He really worked hard and delivered something special,” the source explained. “He’s hoping a stronger performance that highlights Hilaria’s skills will impress viewers tonight.

He’d better. It may be his last chance.

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2025-10-01 01:34