Val Chmerkovskiy Responds to Rumors He Doesn’t Get Along with ‘DWTS’ Partner Alix Earle
Photo by: Disney/Christopher Willard Reading Time: 3 minutes
Dancing with the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy recently commented on rumors that he and his Season 34 partner Alix Earle don’t get along. The dancer acknowledged that it “took time to build trust” between them as a pair.
Val Chmerkovskiy Talks About DWTS Partner Alix Earle
Val Chmerkovskiy told Parade magazine that he considers fan conversation about the show to be a “double-edged sword,” adding, “We want to be celebrated and watched and enjoyed by many, many people. That’s why we’re entertaining. But having said that, I’d be very naïve to think that every single thing I’m going to hear is going to be positive or accurate, even.”
Some of that aforementioned fan conversation concerns his partnership with TikTok star Alix Earle this season. Some viewers have apparently speculated that the pair doesn’t get along, which could be explained by Chmerkovskiy’s tough-love teaching method.
“I think that my approach — one of the reasons why I’m still on the show 20 seasons later — besides my expertise or mastery in the craft,” Chmerkovskiy said, “I think part of it is the way I show up, and I show up authentically myself. I am not somebody that’s going to become best friends with somebody inauthentically.”
He acknowledged that it “took time to build trust” between himself and Earle, adding that it “took time for us to be comfortable around each other.” However, he shared that he thinks people have noticed the “warmth and comfort” between them more recently.
“There’s also a level of respect that I have for Alix, and she has for me, and we have for this process,” Chmerkovskiy told Parade. “And I think that’s what people misconstrued in the beginning, is that respect that we have for each other in this process, that we still maintain throughout.”
SEE ALSO: ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’ 20TH ANNIVERSARY SONGS, DANCE STYLES REVEALED
@alixearle Val left us alone for 1 day . @Joey Graziadei ♬ Plot humor sneaky Pondering – Lynne Publishing
Alix Earle Injured Ahead of New Episode
This week’s episode of DWTS Season 34 celebrates the show’s 20th anniversary. Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy are set to dance a foxtrot to “Singin’ in the Rain” as covered by Matthew Morrison. Earle is also paired up with former Mirrorball champion Joey Graziadei for the relay dance round.
While rehearsing with Grazaiadei over the weekend, Earle apparently sustained an injury. In a video posted to social media, she can be seen holding an ice pack to her face and laughing, while Graziadei comically slaps his forehead.
Earle isn’t the first star to be injured this season. Dylan Efron broke his nose during rehearsals, and Elaine Hendrix had to miss an entire episode due to a rib injury. Andy Richter also recently posted about getting fluid drained from his knee.
It seems that Earle’s injury isn’t too serious, so fans should expect to see her and Val Chmerkovskiy in the ballroom Tuesday night when DWTS airs live on ABC and Disney+.
