Corey Feldman is speaking out about the surprising off-camera turmoil he experienced during his short time on Dancing With the Stars. The actor clarified that while the actual set was a positive space, a swirl of outside gossip and public criticism from a former pro created a “toxic” environment that overshadowed his brief journey on the show.
The On-Set Reality Versus Off-Set Rumors
Despite being eliminated early in season 34, Corey Feldman has positive things to say about his time working directly with the Dancing With the Stars team. He described the atmosphere on the soundstage as hardworking and harmonious.
“On the set everybody gets along. Everybody’s great. Everybody’s happy,” Feldman stated. “You’re working hard. You don’t even have time to look up. You’re just working.”
The trouble, he explained, began when he encountered stories circulating in the media that painted a very different picture of his involvement. He recalls reading exaggerated accounts of backstage friction and specific claims about his own behavior.
“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, ‘Corey Feldman destroyed the show. He destroyed the whole show because he was such an egomaniac and so difficult to work with,’” Feldman shared.
Addressing Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Criticism
A significant source of the off-camera drama was public criticism from Maksim Chmerkovskiy, a former Dancing With the Stars professional dancer. Chmerkovskiy, who is the brother-in-law of Feldman’s professional partner, Jenna Johnson, gave an interview in September suggesting Johnson was having a difficult time with her celebrity partner.
“Obviously, Jenna has a bit of an uphill climb with Corey, which is easy for everybody to say from [outside],” Chmerkovskiy told the Daily Mail at the time. “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.”
Feldman addressed these comments directly, recounting the moment he asked Johnson about them. He says her reaction was dismissive of Chmerkovskiy’s claims.
“I asked Jenna, I’m like, ‘Where is this coming from?’ She rolls her eyes. She’s like, ‘It’s just Maks. Don’t pay attention to him. He just wants attention.’”
This incident highlighted for Feldman how external voices can stir controversy, even when relationships on the show itself are strong.
A Clarification and Commitment to the DWTS Family
Following his initial comments about a “toxic” environment, Feldman provided a clarification to People magazine. He made a clear distinction between his experience with the show’s production and the commentary from those no longer involved.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that my experience on Dancing With the Stars has been positive. Everyone associated with the show — from my fellow cast members to the pros, crew and production team — has treated me with nothing but kindness, support and respect.”
He further explained, “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.” Feldman also expressed his intention to return to rehearsals and continue dancing with Johnson, calling the DWTS family “wonderful.”
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A Supportive Partnership with Jenna Johnson
Despite the outside noise, the relationship between Feldman and his professional partner, Jenna Johnson, appears to have been genuinely supportive. After their elimination in week two during a “One-Hit Wonders Night,” Feldman defended their partnership.
He took to the comments section of Johnson’s Instagram post celebrating their time together to write, “Thank U Jenna! U were an absolute joy to work with. Im so sorry for any negativity the media is using to give the false narrative that our time together was anything less than enjoyable.”
In her own social media post from September 24, Johnson shared her gratitude for their partnership. “Corey. Our time together was cut short but I am SO grateful for the incredible weeks we did get to share,” she wrote. “Thank you for the giggles everyday in rehearsal, thank you for the hard work, and thank you for sharing your life lessons and memories with me! I’ll cherish our friendship forever. Never stop dancing.”
Feldman and Johnson were eliminated in the season’s first double elimination after performing a cha-cha to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” which left them at the bottom of the leaderboard with a combined score of 24 out of 50.
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