A TikTok live comment about ‘PETA’ and ‘dogs’ became the latest chapter in ‘Dancing With The Stars’ behind-the-scenes drama, as pro Brandon Armstrong took a subtle but clear jab at Maks Chmerkovskiy following his controversial remarks about newcomer Jan Ravnik’s ballroom credentials, stirring fan discussion and highlighting long-standing tensions within the DWTS family.
The world of Dancing With The Stars is known for its dazzling performances, emotional journeys, and occasional behind-the-scenes drama. Recently, a seemingly playful moment on a TikTok live session sparked significant conversation, revealing deeper professional disagreements among the show’s beloved pros. Brandon Armstrong, alongside fellow pro Rylee Arnold, hosted a live interview that quickly turned into a subtle, yet unmistakable, response to veteran dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy’s earlier criticisms of newcomer Jan Ravnik.
Maks Chmerkovskiy’s Controversial Critique: A History of Bold Opinions
Maks Chmerkovskiy has long been known as a formidable figure in the ballroom world, often dubbed “ballroom’s bad boy” due to his outspoken nature and history of “not easy relations with the judges” on Dancing With The Stars, as reported by Today.com. His strong opinions have previously put him at odds with judges like Carrie Ann Inaba and Len Goodman, though show producers reportedly “love what he brings to the show” for the excitement he generates.
This history set the stage for his recent comments regarding Jan Ravnik, who joined DWTS after gaining fame as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.” On the October 24 episode of The Penthouse with Peta podcast, co-hosted with his wife and former DWTS pro Peta Murgatroyd, Chmerkovskiy and Murgatroyd discussed Ravnik and his celebrity partner Jen Affleck. Murgatroyd expressed concern, stating, “She’s not getting taught the base of the dance. He is a Taylor Swift dancer, which is the obvious reason why they hired him. Hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach a celebrity ballroom dance is outrageous,” according to Parade.
Chmerkovskiy’s commentary was even more direct and cutting. He asserted, “Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on Dancing With the Stars. There’s zero foundation, technique, quality, understanding of the partnership. It is absurd. This is unreal — how blind we have to be to not say what’s obviously there.” While he added that it wasn’t Ravnik’s fault and he was doing what he was hired to do, the harshness of his critique did not go unnoticed by the DWTS community.
The Subtle Jab: Brandon Armstrong’s ‘PETA’ Remark
The stage for a playful, yet pointed, response was set on October 28, during the “Halloween Night” episode of Dancing With The Stars. Brandon Armstrong and Rylee Arnold hosted a TikTok live session backstage, where they interviewed Jan Ravnik. During their conversation about Ravnik’s popular TikTok lives, which Armstrong noted as “iconic” and “unhinged,” Ravnik subtly acknowledged the controversy himself.
Ravnik responded, “But there’s no hate in my TikToks. I’m not like some other people,” which prompted laughter from Armstrong and Arnold. However, Armstrong then took the opportunity to deliver a more direct, yet coded, message to Chmerkovskiy. He began, “I don’t want to do this y’all, but I love PETA, like the group, like with the animals,” as reported by Entertainment Tonight. This comment, while seemingly random, was a clear reference to Maks Chmerkovskiy’s wife, Peta Murgatroyd, a detail well understood by longtime DWTS viewers.
Armstrong further emphasized the jab by continuing, “I love adopting animals, I love taking care of animals,” before pointing to Ravnik’s bare feet and jokingly asking why he had “the dogs” out tonight. The exchange resonated deeply with fans, who interpreted it as Armstrong’s way of defending Ravnik and pushing back against Chmerkovskiy’s severe assessment.
Jan Ravnik’s Dignified Response and DWTS Journey
Despite the brewing controversy, Jan Ravnik and his celebrity partner Jen Affleck performed a contemporary routine to Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” on “Halloween Night,” scoring a respectable 32/40. Later that evening, the couple was eliminated from the competition. Following his elimination, Ravnik addressed the earlier criticisms with composure.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Ravnik stated, “I have no comment on that. Look, I got all the love on this show. All the pros, from the judges, also. Like everyone gave me so much love, and whoever saying outside, the people [who are] trying to stay relevant and spreading the hate, this is not a way to do it. And I never will spread or take the hate.” He also made a gesture to show the criticism went “in one ear and out the other,” adding to Us Weekly that everyone is entitled to an opinion, and he chooses whether to respect it or not.
Ravnik’s journey on DWTS, from a renowned Taylor Swift backup dancer to facing harsh ballroom scrutiny, encapsulates the varying expectations and pressures within the show. His dignified response to criticism, coupled with Brandon Armstrong’s public display of solidarity, underscores a deeper narrative of support and professional camaraderie amidst competitive tensions on the show.
