"Dancing with the Stars” cast members Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are showing off their silly side in a viral video that has fans reacting across social media. The married couple joined the trending “Backpack Challenge” and posted their attempt on Instagram, capturing the attention of followers with their candid bloopers and fun energy.
In the clip, Murgatroyd can be seen strapped to Chmerkovskiy’s back as part of the challenge, which mimics couples carrying each other like backpacks using leg harnesses and strap support. While the challenge didn’t exactly go smoothly, their lighthearted attempt earned big laughs—and even bigger praise.
“Survived the backpack challenge… but my dignity didn’t,” the couple captioned the video, tagging it with hashtags like #SendHelp and #Couples. The challenge, which has gone viral across Instagram and TikTok, requires one partner (usually the woman) to attach backpack straps around her legs while the other partner lifts and carries her.
Fans flooded the comments with support and laughing emojis. One user wrote, “You guys are just so funny,” while others shared how refreshing it was to see the couple always having fun.
The DWTS Couple Keeps Fans Entertained With Challenge Video
The backpack challenge isn’t the only trend Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy have taken part in. The pair has previously gone viral with other social media challenges, including the “Alphabet Challenge”, a game where couples try to come up with words or phrases for each letter of the alphabet. Their version of the challenge had fans laughing, especially as they teased each other with playful answers. One fan commented on that video, “You can just tell how much you love each other! So rare in Hollywood!”
They also took part in Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” dance challenge that trended in 2022, featuring a cameo from their oldest son, Shai.Last year, the couple announced their new podcast, “The Maks and Peta Show,” giving fans a closer look at their lives beyond the dance floor. They teased the launch on Instagram, sharing their excitement to share more personal and professional updates as a couple.
From Dance Floor to Family Life: A Timeline of Maks and Peta’s Journey
Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy first met on Broadway in 2009 and began dating in 2012. They got engaged in 2015, tied the knot in 2017, and have since welcomed three sons: Shai, Rio, and Milan, as PEOPLE reported.
Though the couple has been married for eight years, they’ve shared publicly that they once briefly broke up early in their relationship—a topic Chmerkovskiy opened up about on a podcast.
The two have remained close, both on and off the dance floor. Their chemistry, humor, and openness continue to shine in their social media presence, with fans enjoying every new post.
