A firestorm erupted on social media when Dancing with the Stars professional Val Chmerkovskiy and multiple show veterans publicly challenged Corey Feldman’s characterization of the competition series as “toxic.” The dispute, which played out across Instagram comments and entertainment headlines, exposed a deeper conflict rooted in family tensions and media scrutiny.
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The Radio Interview That Sparked Backlash
Feldman sat down with Gurvey’s Law radio show in late November 2025, and clips shared by Daily Mail on November 22 contained explosive language about his brief stint on season 34. The 54-year-old actor, eliminated during week two alongside Baron Davis, described what he witnessed off camera.
“There was a lot of stupidity in the mudslinging that went on behind the scenes,” Feldman stated. “Actually there, everything was great. But the behind-the-scenes drama and BS that people throw around that show, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s the worst, like, most toxic.”
When People magazine posted the quotes on Instagram, the Dancing with the Stars community responded within hours.
Val Chmerkovskiy’s Four-Emoji Rebuttal
Val Chmerkovskiy, married to Feldman’s professional partner Jenna Johnson, posted his response directly under the article: ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐คฅ
The sequence told a story. A skeptical face with a monocle. A thinking expression. Sealed lips. A Pinocchio nose signaling deception.
Val, 39, was competing in the season 34 finals with celebrity partner Alix Earle when the controversy broke. His public dismissal of Feldman’s claims set off a wave of similar reactions.
Six Former Contestants Defend Show Culture
Cast members from multiple seasons jumped into the comment section to contradict Feldman’s assessment:
Season 32 contestant Lele Pons wrote: “Such a lie! its the most welcoming experience”
Season 18 runner-up Amy Purdy stated: “Never experienced anything toxic when I was on the show”
Mauricio Umansky, who competed in season 32 before his week six elimination, added: “There is nothing toxic on the show. It’s such a welcoming family”
Shangela, a season 31 finalist, posted: “In my experienceโฆ @dancingwiththestars has one of THE BEST production families in the biz. Forever grateful”
Season 25 runner-up Lindsey Stirling offered the most extensive defense: “I only had the best memories come from my time on DWTS. From the producers, to the makeup team to the camera men to the dancers, everyone was so kind and respectful. It was literally a dream experience”
Former professional dancer Sharna Burgess simply commented: “How oddโฆ ๐ง”
Lost in Translation
What the initial headlines missed: Feldman wasn’t attacking the production staff, crew, or his fellow celebrities. His frustration targeted external voices and media narratives that painted him as difficult.
“On the set, everybody gets along. Everybody’s great. Everybody’s happy. You’re working hard,” Feldman explained during the same radio interview. “You don’t even have time to look up. You’re just working.”
He continued: “You start reading these things in the paper, like, ‘This person’s mad at this person. These people aren’t talking to each other.’ Or, ‘Are people working hard enough?’ ‘Corey Feldman destroyed the show. He destroyed the whole show because he was such an egomaniac and so difficult to work with.'”
The actor singled out one specific source of these narratives.
The Maksim Factor
Maksim Chmerkovskiy, a former DWTS professional and Jenna Johnson’s brother-in-law through her marriage to Val, had given his own interview to Daily Mail in September 2025. Published on September 23, just as Feldman faced elimination, Maksim’s comments suggested serious problems behind closed doors.
“Obviously, Jenna has a bit of an uphill climb with Corey, which is easy for everybody to say from [outside], but I know that she’s having a much more difficult time with this entire thing and to the point that it is really difficult for her,” Maksim told the outlet.
The 45-year-old, who left Dancing with the Stars after season 25, suggested Feldman struggled with both technique and work ethic. He added that choreography wasn’t in Feldman’s comfort zone and urged viewers to “put some respect on the name” for Jenna, the reigning champion who had won season 33 with Joey Graziadei.
According to Feldman’s account on Gurvey’s Law, he confronted Jenna Johnson about her brother-in-law’s public statements.
“I asked Jen, I’m like, ‘Where is this coming from?'” Feldman recalled. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s just Maks.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘Don’t pay attention to him. He just wants attention.’ I was like ‘Oh my God.'”
Setting the Record Straight
By November 25, Feldman issued a formal statement to People magazine to clarify his position.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that my experience on Dancing with the Stars has been positive,” he said. “Everyone associated with the show โ from my fellow cast members to the pros, crew and production team โ has treated me with nothing but kindness, support and respect.”
He specified: “The issues I was referring to have nothing to do with the show itself. They relate to the outside commentary, rumors, and individuals who are no longer directly involved with DWTS but still feel entitled to weigh in and create unnecessary drama.”
In a conversation with former contestant Tori Spelling, Feldman went further. “Everybody on the show was really nice. Everything was really great. There was not one negative thing I could say about anybody on the show,” he stated. “Jenna and I got along great. There was no negativity on that set at all.”
Finale Appearance Closes Chapter
Feldman returned for the season 34 finale that aired November 26 on ABC. He posted reunion photos on Instagram showing him with Jenna Johnson, Baron Davis, and other eliminated contestants during rehearsals.
“OOH YEA BACK N THE GAME #LOVE !!!” Feldman captioned the images. “NOT REALLY, BUT BACK 4 A HOT SEC.”
The post showed him smiling alongside the cast he’d praised in his clarification statement. He added that he and Davis “both wish we could hav had more time 2 entertain the audiences.”
Context Behind the Controversy
Feldman’s season 34 run faced challenges from the start. He missed five rehearsal days before the premiere, which showed in his first performance. His tango to Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” earned nine out of 20 points, tying for the lowest score of the night. The double elimination on September 23 sent him home after just two weeks.
Jenna Johnson later confirmed on a podcast that she knew about Feldman’s scheduling conflicts before the missed rehearsals occurred. Both she and Feldman denied any partnership tension in social media posts following their elimination.
When Feldman thanked her on Instagram after their elimination, writing “Thank U Jenna! U were an absolute joy to work with,” Johnson responded with her own tribute: “Our time together was cut short but I am SO grateful for the incredible weeks we did get to share!!”
The social media clash revealed how val chmerkovskiy and former castmates initially refuted corey feldman’s claims without the full context. What appeared to be an attack on Dancing with the Stars culture turned out to be criticism of one former professional’s public commentary and sensationalized media coverage. The distinction mattered to everyone who defended the show, even if the headlines suggested otherwise.
