Peta Murgatroyd has reacted to her husband Maks Chmerkovskiy’s controversial hot takes about the Dancing With the Stars season 34 pros.
“Before we get into this week’s breakdown, I want to take a moment to address what happened last week,” Murgatroyd, 39, began the Friday, October 31, episode of her “Penthouse With Peta” podcast. “Some of our critiques came off more harshly than intended. I wanted to be really clear that was never the goal.”
She added, “We never want to condone hate or personal attacks of any kind. We love Dancing With the Stars. It’s one of the best shows on television, and a show that has given me so much over the years.”
The two-time mirrorball champion was joined by Chmerkovskiy, 45, on the last episode of her podcast, where they recapped the events of DWTS’ Wicked Night. During the episode, Murgatroyd agreed with her husband after he suggested that Jan Ravnik and Rylee Arnold were too inexperienced to be successful pro dancers on the show. (Season 34 was Ravnik’s first year in the ballroom and Arnold’s third.)
Maks Chmerkovskiy Apologizes to Jan Ravnik for ‘DWTS’ Criticism
“Jan and Rylee, please know that our intention was never to make things personal,” Murgatroyd said on Friday. “We’re so sorry for hurting your feelings. Our goal is to discuss performances from a professional ballroom dancer’s perspective, and, unfortunately, sometimes our passion can be mistaken for negativity — but that’s never where our hearts are.”
According to Murgatroyd, she launched her podcast earlier this year to “celebrate dance” without contributing “to the noise and negativity” that often surrounds the show.
“I started this podcast to connect with people in an industry I love and with incredible women who are navigating it alongside with me,” she noted. “I want this to continue being a safe space for open and honest conversation, where we can share our authentic opinions with respect and care.”
Murgatroyd concluded, “I want to learn from this and move forward, continuing to watch, support and celebrate this show that we all love.”
Arnold, 20, has publicly not reacted to the feedback, while Ravnik, 30, told Us Weekly after the Tuesday, October 28, live show that he was unbothered by the criticism.
“I mean, look, everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a right to have an opinion,” Ravnik exclusively told Us after being eliminated with celebrity partner Jen Affleck. “Haters going to hate and whoever loves us, loves us. What am I going to do? You can’t change their mind. Everyone can have opinions, either I respect or don’t respect. If they want to stay relevant in that way, yeah, let them hate.”
Jan Ravnik and Rylee Arnold Bond Over Maks Chmerkovskiy ‘DWTS’ Criticism
As for Chmerkovskiy, he has since apologized for any offensive comments.
“I want to apologize to Jan for the way my words made you feel [and] for hurting your feelings,” Chmerkovskiy, who previously won DWTS season 18, said in a Thursday, October 30, social media video. “There’s a lot more that I wanted to say. I would like the opportunity to do it over coffee, or any kind of time you have to spare.”
The Ukrainian dance pro stressed that his dance feedback “doesn’t come with feelings and emotions.”
“It just comes with [a] completely different range of reasoning, and I’m that guy,” he stated. “I’m very honest and very black and white. It may be late in the game, but when I realize something about myself, I realize … because I finally understand that for myself.”
Chmerkovskiy did not appear on Murgatroyd’s Friday podcast episode, where she was instead joined by So You Think You Can Dance alum JJ Rabone. The two women even praised Ravnik and Affleck’s contemporary routine during Tuesday’s Halloween-themed show.
“I hoped they [had gotten] nines. I mean, this is his wheelhouse,” Murgatroyd said, referring to Ravnik’s prior dance experience. “This is what he does best, [and] I did think it was her best dance that she has done on the show from top to tail.”
Dancing With the Stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
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