Dancing With the Stars veteran Maksim Chmerkovskiy has recently weighed in on the difficulties faced by fellow dancer Jenna Johnson in her pairing with Corey Feldman during season 34, just before their elimination from the competition.
In an article published on September 23 by the Daily Mail, Maksim, now 45, described the challenges that Johnson, 31, encountered while working with the 54-year-old actor.
“It’s clear that Jenna has a significant challenge ahead of her with Corey,” Maksim commented, highlighting the complexities of their dynamic. “It’s easy to make judgments from the outside, but I can tell that this situation is quite tough for her.” Interestingly, judging from the drama-studded history of the show, the brother of Val Chmerkovskiy, who tied the knot with Johnson in 2019 after a series of ups and downs, seems to have personal stakes in the narrative.
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Johnson and Feldman for additional insights.
Maksim also emphasized the need to respect Johnson’s prowess within the competitive arena: “You’re dealing with a reigning champion, so let’s acknowledge her skills here,” he urged the audience. Maxim himself is no stranger to success in the series, having won the prestigious mirror ball trophy in season 18 back in 2014. He went on to note that Johnson’s current difficulties are tied to the pressures faced by Feldman, an inexperienced contestant on the reality show.
Jenna Johnson and Corey Feldman Stewart Cook/Disney via Getty Images
“Remember, this production isn’t solely about the dancing between partners; it’s about navigating a massive web of commitments,” he pointed out. “There’s a slew of people involved, countless interviews, and all of this unfolds amidst your rehearsal time and the related stress. You’re trying to heal from the experience, and that’s not trivial.”
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While Maksim expressed optimism that Jenna would ultimately manage to succeed, their fate was sealed during the Tuesday double elimination, resulting in her and Corey being sent home alongside Baron Davis and Britt Stewart.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Us reported exclusively on September 3 that just weeks before the season premiere on September 16, Feldman had concerns about disappointing Johnson regarding their partnership. “I feel like I may have let her down a little bit already,” he confessed, stating that he feared her reaction upon seeing him as her dance partner: “I’m sure when she opened the door, she thought, ‘Oh God, what do I have to deal with?’”
Despite his reservations, Feldman expressed gratitude for having been paired with Johnson, the reigning queen of DWTS, who clinched last year’s trophy with former Bachelor star Joey Graziadei. “I’m thankful to be paired with someone so skilled and knowledgeable about dance,” he added, highlighting her expertise in moves, rhythms, and techniques.
