DWTS’ Maks Chmerkovskiy Finally Breaks Silence on Derek Hough Feud Rumors: ‘The Reality Is…’

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Dancing With the Stars pros Maks Chmerkovskiy and Derek Hough may have had some tension in the past, but that’s all behind them now. Chmerkovskiy recently explained that there’s always some beef behind the scenes at DWTS, but confirmed he and Hough didn’t let it come between them.

Dancing With the Stars naturally creates competition among the show’s participants and, with their professional backgrounds, it’s understandable that the pros are serious about their jobs and want to succeed on the dance floor.

Chmerkovskiy first joined Dancing With the Stars in Season 2 and competed through Season 5, then returned for Seasons 7 through 15, and again for Season 18 and Seasons 23 through 25. He only won once, placing first in the Season 18 competition with his partner, Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis.

Hough joined Dancing With the Stars in Season 5 and competed through Season 11, returned for Seasons 13 through 21, and returned again in Season 23. He won the competition six times — in Season 7 with partner Brooke Burke, Season 10 with Nicole Scherzinger, Season 11 with Jennifer Grey, Season 16 with Kellie Pickler, Season 17 with Amber Riley, and Season 21 with Bindi Irwin. Hough has served as judge on DWTS since Season 29.

During a November 2024 interview on the Boyfriend Material With Harry Jowsey podcast, Chmerkovskiy was asked whether he had “show rivalries” with anyone at Dancing With the Stars. “Yeah. I mean we all beefed at some point, you know?” he admitted.

The dance pro revealed how there were definitely rumors of tension with Hough, but he set the record straight. “It’s so cute, like people think that Derek and I were lethal enemies always, you know, and f***ing hated each other,” Chmerkovskiy said. “I literally texted today at 6:30 in the morning like to me, Val [Chmerkovskiy], Mark [Ballas], and Derek, like ‘Yo we should go play pickleball.’”

He continued, “I mean, so you know the reality is that when you’re in… we were so consumed, we were so competitive, we were so f***ing in it, you know? You got somebody winning mirrorballs. I also want to win, you know what I’m saying, next season. I like you as a person, but I f***ing hate you as a competitor, you know? Like, those feelings got, I guess, looked at a little bit strange.”

Chmerkovskiy may have chalked up some of the friction to the competition, but he also admitted he had “a couple of beefs” with his celebrity partners. “I was like ‘Yo, the show is over, I really don’t want to see any of you, you know? And I would be happy if you don’t want to see any of me,'” he explained.

The former DWTS pro addressed his problematic pairing with Olympic soccer player Hope Solo. “It was just, it got worse… and there’s a few [other] people,” he said.

Dancing With the Stars is available to stream on Disney Plus.