The oft-shirtless Maksim Chmerkovskiy's always filled the role of 'Dancing With the Stars' bad boy, and he can be relied upon to have at least one big outburst each season, with his anger usually directed toward head judge Len Goodman. Last night he reached boiling point and again lashed out at Len after he criticized Maks' and partner Hope Solo's rumba.When Maks questioned Len's credentials, the head judge said "I've been in this business for nearly 50 years," to which Maks quipped "Maybe it's time to go." Things escalated after Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli tried to intervene, and Maks said "Everybody on that balcony has been dying and killing themselves only to hear your guy's a little judgmental comments [sic]. ... I am not being disrespectful, I'm protecting my partner."
So far it was just between Maks and the judges, but then did the Ukrainian take it too far? When he told host Brooke Charvet that "With all due respect, this is my show, I help make it what it is," the look on fellow pro dancer Derek Hough's face in the background was priceless. So, what did the other dancers think of his outburst? And does Maks regret saying what he did?
Walking the post-show press line backstage the pro dancers and their celebrity partners couldn't help but address the incident. A calmer Maks told OnTheRedCarpet.com "I've had it. I've had it a long time ago. I just kind of kept it cool but, look, [Hope] doesn't deserve it." He then joked, "Look, whatever helps the ratings. You're welcome show!"
Maks previously told Len to shove it and accused him of being over the hill last year when Len criticized him for taking off his shirt -- again -- during a samba with then-partner Erin Andrews. The angry dancer told 'Us' that "Len is wrong one billion percent. ... This is what I do for a living! ... Don't tell me what I didn't do right because you're wrong! And if that means you're too old to be on this show and judge, then that's what it means."
'DWTS' has long been accused of being a popularity contest rather than a dancing contest, with the success of past contestants like Bristol Palin being attributed to a mixture of kid gloves from the judges and tactical voting on behalf of viewers.
It's something that has also plagued the mothership, BBC show 'Strictly Come Dancing.' In 2008 one contestant, veteran political journalist and truly terrible dancer John Sergeant, even had to quit the show because he was in serious danger of winning thanks to the public vote.
This season's bottom performer has consistently been the popular Chaz Bono, who did receive the lowest score from the judges last night -- 19 points vs. Maks and Hope's 20 -- and Maks wondered aloud to journalists last night why some far better dancers had already left the competition.
"What I've had of, I've had enough of being kind of separated -- Why isn't Carson [Kressley] here? Why no Kristin [Cavallari]? ... They were told that you should be better. You look like you should be better and then there were others that could barely walk and they were told, 'Well, you know what? I love your effort. I love your dedication. You really want to be here. I'm rooting for you.' A judge is supposed to judge."
Longtime 'DWTS' fan favorite Derek Hough disagreed with Maks' outburst. "You know, we're seasoned professionals. We've been on the show a long time and we know kind of know what to expect. We know the ins and outs. I think that to disrespect them, I think, is a little crossing the line."
However, Lacey Schwimmer backed Maks. "Generally speaking, Maks has the courage to say a lot of what a lot of the people on the show don't have the courage to say. So, good for him."
Nancy Grace was tactfully critical: "One of the hardest things I had to learn was when I appeared in front of judges for 10 years, was whether you agree with them or disagree with them, they are the judge. I found, in my life, that sometimes you have to be just as strong to fight back as to hold your tongue. It's a very very fine line and Maks did what he thought he had to do."
Top scorer J.R. Martinez said "He did go a little too far with it, but it is what it is." His partner Karina Smirnoff acknowledged that it was a hard act to follow, saying "we didn't concur with Maks' opinion."
Do you think Len Goodman's too old? Or do you think Maks is just being disrespectful?
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