DWTS’ Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Kirstie Alley’s Ups and Downs Over the Years
06.12.2022 - 18:15
/ usmagazine.com
After bonding in the ballroom, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Kirstie Alley had a very public feud — still disagreeing months before her untimely passing in December 2022.
The twosome met on season 12 of Dancing With the Stars, making it to the finals on the ABC dance competition in 2011. One year later, they reunited for the All-Stars season of the series.
Things took a turn, however, when Leah Remini joined the cast of DWTS for season 17 after the King of Queens actress publicly left Scientology. While she wasn’t partnered with Chmerkovskiy, the twosome became friends the same year that Alley called Remini a “bigot” for her remarks about the church. (Alley was an active Scientologist during her career.)
“I thought we had a great relationship and if it was something else or not, I don’t know. But I got a message that now that I’m associating with other people that she can’t be associated with, I am no longer to be spoken with, and sorry, but that is what it is,” Chmerkovskiy said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in 2014, noting that he doesn’t believe in “science fiction.”
Chmerkovskiy, who was also rumored to be linked to Remini’s bestie Jennifer Lopez at the time, declined to name names at the time. “I love people. I don’t judge them … my best friend is Muslim,” he added. “I just feel like, you know, it’s sad that we’ve gone through so much together, and I feel like I’ve helped her and this is where we’re at now, but I still think the world of her and I wish her the best.”
Alley posted a controversial response at the time, writing via Twitter: “Dear Sir..after you have ass raped me there is really no reason to include ‘I wish you the best’ … It’s rhetorical.”
Chmerkovskiy further opened up about the situation during an