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Body comments draw criticism
Chaz Bono competed in Season 13 with Lacey Schwimmer and left during Week 6. He later said Bruno Tonioli’s repeated comparisons of his body to various objects and animals had built up over time, with the penguin remark among those that bothered him.
In Season 23, Amber Rose said Julianne Hough’s reaction to Rose and Maks Chmerkovskiy’s salsa made her feel embarrassed and shamed. Hough said she was evaluating the dance, not Rose’s body, and the two discussed the issue on the show before moving on.
Solo’s allegations against Maks
Hope Solo, a professional soccer player who partnered with Maks Chmerkovskiy in Season 13, described their rehearsals in her 2012 memoir. She alleged that he pushed and struck her during practice and said he once slapped her across the face.
Solo wrote that the show offered to replace Maks, but she declined because she did not want to damage his career. Maks denied her allegations through a representative, and later made critical remarks about Solo in public appearances.
Season 35 suspension
The account describes Val Chmerkovskiy’s suspension during Season 35 as the show’s first suspension of a dancer. The incident involved social media comments about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Inaba had criticized Jenna Johnson for including a lift in Harry Shum Jr.’s samba on Super Bowl night. The account ends while describing that criticism, so it provides no further details about the comments or the suspension.
Key points
- Chaz Bono said repeated remarks about his body affected him cumulatively.
- Amber Rose said Julianne Hough’s reaction to a salsa made her feel shamed.
- Hope Solo alleged that Maks Chmerkovskiy mistreated her during rehearsals; he denied the allegations.
- Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended after social media remarks about Carrie Ann Inaba.