Maks Chmerkovskiy Makes Peace With Jan Ravnik After Fiery ‘DWTS’ Feud

The former "DWTS" champion, known for his outspoken personality, issued a public apology days after his comments sparked online outrage.

He had questioned Ravnik's ballroom experience, calling his casting a missed opportunity.

After realizing his words had hurt the dancer, the 45-year-old extended an olive branch on social media, hoping to resolve the situation and move forward in peace.

Maks Chmerkovskiy Apologizes And Seeks To Reconcile With Ravnik

On October 30, Chmerkovskiy took to Instagram to publicly apologize to Ravnik, acknowledging that his earlier statements went too far.

He began his post saying, "I want to apologize to Jan for the way my words hurt your feelings."

The dancer added that he wanted to meet over coffee and "bury the hatchet," expressing a desire to move past their tension.

Chmerkovskiy revealed that he hoped to "walk away with knowing me feeling completely different" and even suggested they "might be friends."

He explained that his comments about dance usually come from a technical standpoint rather than emotion, saying his "commentary on dance does not come with feelings and emotions."

According to the choreographer, he wanted to explain himself personally because the situation had gotten out of hand.

Fans React To Chmerkovskiy's Apology

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In no time, Maks Chmerkovskiy's video received thousands of reactions from fans. Many users emphasized that he didn't need to apologize as his words about Ravnik were honest and authentic.

"I wish you were a guest judge this year. The world needs more honest people," one person wrote.

Another commented, "I respect Maks for being authentic and honest. I can also appreciate his ability to hold himself accountable when he feels convicted."

Other users slammed Chmerkovskiy, calling him out for being a mean person.

"I used to be a fan of yours. But I eventually had to come to the realization that you're not a nice person," one fan noted.

Maks Chmerkovskiy Faced Backlash After Harsh Podcast Remarks

The controversy began when Chmerkovskiy appeared on the October 24 episode of "The Penthouse with Peta," hosted by his wife, Peta Murgatroyd.

During the conversation, he expressed strong disapproval of Ravnik's skills on "Dancing with the Stars," claiming that he lacked the fundamentals of ballroom dancing.

He said, "Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on Dancing with the Stars. There's zero foundation, technique, quality, understanding of the partnership."

Chmerkovskiy became emotional as he continued, calling it absurd that such a dancer was chosen.

He even stressed that he had no issues whatsoever against him, but believed that Ravnik's casting was "a missed opportunity."

On her part, Murgatroyd noted that Ravnik's background as one of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour dancers was likely the obvious reason why he was hired.

However, even she admitted that "hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach ballroom dancing to a celebrity as a job is outrageous."

Jan Ravnik Responds Gracefully To Maks Chmerkovskiy's Criticism

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While Chmerkovskiy faced intense scrutiny for his remarks, Ravnik remained calm and avoided engaging in the conflict.

As The Blast reported, he spoke to Entertainment Tonight on October 28, saying, "I have no comment on that. Look, I got all the love on this show."

The 30-year-old highlighted that he received all the praise from the judges and so much love from the audience.

Without mentioning Chmerkovskiy directly, he appeared to dismiss the negativity surrounding the situation.

He added that people trying to stay relevant and spreading hate were not helping.

"I never will spread or take the hate," he said.

Ravinik's response drew praise from fans who admired his professionalism and positivity amid the drama.

Maks Chmerkovskiy Reflects On His 'DWTS' Journey And Reputation

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After addressing the feud on Instagram, Chmerkovskiy reflected on his long career on "Dancing with the Stars" and the criticism he has faced over the years.

He acknowledged the jokes about his record on the show, saying, "You can't really hurt my feelings by saying, 'Look at you, loser. You only won once.'"

The dance icon noted that his brother, Val, had won three times, while his wife, Murgatroyd, and his sister-in-law, Jenna Johnson, each had two victories.

Chmerkovskiy admitted that he was never able to dominate the public perception and often struggled with how people viewed him.

Looking back, he confessed that he had made "incredible mistakes" with his dance partners and had lost his temper during horrible situations.

Still, the instructor said he hoped to lead by example and use his experiences to remind others not to repeat his past errors.