Dancing With The Stars Contestant Slams Show’s “Toxic” Behind-The-Scenes Environment

by

I was really shocked to hear one of the celebrities on Dancing with the Stars speak out about how difficult things are behind the scenes. They said the environment was actually “toxic,” which is a strong word! It’s hard to believe, considering the show has been on for 20 years and we’re almost at the end of season 34, ready to find out who wins!

Robert Irwin, Elaine Hendrix, Dylan Efron, Alix Earle, and Jordan Chiles are the finalists, but only one will win the Mirrorball Trophy.

Even with the show’s popularity, Dancing with the Stars is now dealing with claims of a negative and difficult work environment. Former child actor Corey Feldman, who was recently eliminated from the current season with his partner Jenna Johnson, has spoken out about these issues.

During an interview on Gurvey’s Law Radio Show (reported by the Daily Mail), actor Feldman discussed his difficult time on Dancing with the Stars. He criticized professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy for suggesting that his partner, Johnson, deserved more respect, as Feldman felt he had been respectful all along.

Feldman criticized the pointless negativity and drama happening behind the scenes, appearing to be talking about Chmerkovskiy. He said he’d never witnessed such behavior and described the show as incredibly unhealthy and the absolute worst, despite enjoying what was happening on camera.

The actor said people called him a self-centered person who ruined the show. Initially, he believed everything was going well on Dancing with the Stars because everyone appeared friendly and content. However, he began to realize there were issues when he read news stories detailing how others connected to the show apparently felt about him.

When questioned about the rumors, the dancer confessed that Chmerkovskiy was the source of the negative press. She reassured Feldman it was simply a bid for attention.

The finale not only determines the winner, but also brings back all the contestants who were previously eliminated, along with their professional dance partners. Feldman shared that he wasn’t looking forward to being back on set at all.

As a film buff, I have to say, the actual show itself was fantastic. But honestly, the stuff that went on behind the scenes? It was just awful. I’ve rarely seen such unnecessary drama and negativity – it was seriously the most toxic environment I can imagine. All that mudslinging was just ridiculous.

Everyone on set gets along well and the atmosphere is positive. We’re all working incredibly hard, so busy that you don’t even have a moment to spare. But then you start seeing negative stories in the press – rumors about conflicts between people, questions about work ethic, and even accusations, like one claiming Corey Feldman ruined everything due to being difficult to work with.

I started wondering where all this was coming from and asked Jen. I said, “Where is this coming from?” She told me it was just Max and rolled her eyes, saying he just wanted attention and I shouldn’t bother with him. I was really surprised.

It’s interesting how Feldman’s perspective shifted after first claiming the environment was toxic. He later told People magazine that his time on Dancing with the Stars was actually a good experience. He said he was treated with kindness, support, and respect by everyone involved, including the professional dancers.

Following some initial reactions that suggested he disliked the show, Feldman explained that his frustration wasn’t with Dancing with the Stars itself, but with former cast and crew members who he feels continue to offer unwanted opinions and stir up trouble. Maksim Chmerkovskiy departed DWTS after season 25 in 2017.

Despite previously saying he wasn’t excited about coming back for the Dancing with the Stars finale, the actor told People he’s really looking forward to performing with Johnson once more.

I want to be clear: I’ve really enjoyed my time on Dancing with the Stars. Everyone involved – the other contestants, the professional dancers, and the entire crew – has been incredibly kind, supportive, and respectful to me.

The problems I’m talking about aren’t with the show’s content. They stem from outside opinions, gossip, and people who used to be involved but continue to cause unnecessary drama.

I’m excited to start rehearsals again this week and dance with Jenna. Everyone involved with Dancing with the Stars has been amazing, and I really appreciate being a part of the show.

Feldman’s time on the show was a little overshadowed by reports of negative comments from Chmerkovskiy, though Chmerkovskiy later said he doesn’t have a problem with the show itself. It’s not exactly clear why Feldman initially expressed reluctance about returning for the finale, but he may have just been reacting to some critical press coverage.

Corey Feldman danced the Tango and Cha-cha on Dancing with the Stars, earning scores of 9 and 15 from the judges. However, these scores weren’t high enough to prevent his elimination from the show.

We’re hoping Feldman’s performance goes smoothly and the finale is a big hit. Even though he was one of the first contestants eliminated, he’ll be there to support whoever wins Dancing with the Stars – whether it’s Irwin, Hendrix, Efron, Earle, or Chiles.

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC and streams live on Disney+.

Read More

2025-11-24 22:52