Maks Chmerkovskiy Critiques Jan Ravnik’s Pro Status on DWTS

LOS ANGELES, CA — Former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy publicly criticized the casting of Jan Ravnik as a professional dancer on the show during a recent episode of his wife Peta Murgatroyd‘s podcast, “The Penthouse With Peta.” Chmerkovskiy expressed his doubts about Ravnik’s qualifications, stating, “Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on Dancing With the Stars.”

Chmerkovskiy, who has been a pro on the dance competition series for 17 seasons, emphasized the lack of technique and understanding in Ravnik’s dancing. He noted that Ravnik’s recent performances, especially during the Halloween-themed episode featuring guest judge Jon M. Chu, showcased these shortcomings. “He had no idea what the foxtrot is supposed to look like,” Chmerkovskiy lamented.

Despite the criticism, Chmerkovskiy clarified that he holds no personal grievances against Ravnik. He said, “Jan, whoever he is, I have zero against him whatsoever. No way, this was a missed opportunity.” The former champion’s comments come after Ravnik’s advancement to the next round of the competition with his celebrity partner, Jen Affleck.

Murgatroyd supported Chmerkovskiy’s viewpoint, asserting that Affleck is unfairly disadvantaged due to her partnership with Ravnik. She stated, “I feel bad because she’s not getting taught the basics that she needs to.” Murgatroyd argued that Ravnik was hired primarily due to his background as a dancer for Taylor Swift, saying, “He’s a lovely guy, but hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach ballroom dancing is outrageous.”

Ravnik, who joined the show for its 34th season, expressed his excitement about competing in DWTS after previously touring with Taylor Swift. “I traveled all around the world with Eras Tour, and now I’m coming to the ballroom stage for Dancing With the Stars,” he shared during a video statement on Good Morning America.

The mixed reviews of Ravnik’s performance raise questions about the casting decisions on the show, especially as the season progresses with many prominent celebrity contestants.