Gleb Savchenko Throws Shade at Fellow ‘DWTS’ Pro Alan Bersten: ‘He’s Just Not Up To The Level of Dancing’

At this point, we’re rumbling with the stars.

via: EW

Gleb Savchenko is the latest DWTS-lebrity to weigh in on the controversy unfolding around pro Val Chmerkovskiy.

The wide world of Dancing With the Stars has been in tumult ever since judge Carrie Ann Inaba and pro Jenna Johnson engaged in a minor tiff over a particular move in Johnson’s week 5 choreography on Tuesday. Even though Johnson noted moments after the exchange that she appreciated Inaba’s note and respected her authority as a judge, Chmerkovskiy — Johnson’s husband and fellow DWTS pro — did not feel the same way.

After a series of online comments about Inaba were met with broad blowback, Chmerkovskiy was benched by the show for Tuesday’s upcoming episode. Alan Bersten, who was eliminated on season 35’s second week alongside celeb partner Giada De Laurentiis, was picked to sub in for Chmerkovskiy to dance with his partner, Jenna Dewan.

Reactions have rippled throughout the extended web of DWTS personnel and alums, and the latest to weigh in is Gleb Savchenko, a seasoned pro who sat out this entire season after his own share of controversy.

On a recent TikTok live that was recorded and reposted by fans, Savchenko mused, “Alan, I think he’s Alan. I mean, he’s just not up to the level of dancing, like, period. Like, quality, technique — he’s a good dancer, I guess, for TV. But if we talk about art? Creating art? He’s like, eh.”

Savchenko then provided the caveats that he doesn’t “want to talk s--- about people,” is “just like being honest,” and doesn’t “have anything against the guy.” But for him, the question remains:

“Why Alan? Who else is there? Give like — what’s his name? Who’s on troupe? Remind me.” Several fans then commented the name “Brandon,” a reference to Brandon Armstrong, who was eliminated alongside Summer House star Ciara Miller two weeks back.

“Yes, B would probably... because Jenna is small and Val is a little smaller than Brandon and Alan, so who would I put... Carter. Carter? Yes! Carter,” Savchenko continued, referring to troupe dancer Carter Williams.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Bersten and Chmerkovskiy for comment.

Savchenko competed as a pro on 13 seasons of DWTS, and has yet to snatch the Mirrorball Trophy. He most recently competed on season 34 with Hilaria Baldwin, but was not asked back for season 35, following a messy breakup with his season 33 partner, Brooks Nader, that entailed allegations of cheating.

For his part, Chmerkovskiy first shared his belief that Inaba should “put some respect” on Johnson’s name, and was “trippin talking to her like that” in the comment section of an online clip of Johnson and her partner, Harry Shum Jr., receiving their week 5 scores.

He then claimed that the DWTS audience “almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night” — a comment widely interpreted to reference Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. It was a comment Chmerkovskiy promptly apologized for.

“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he wrote on Instagram. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally, and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside of our internal DWTS family. I should have never made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it.”

Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

*****

Gleb should worry about keeping his dick in his pants, and stay out of grown folks business. Also since when do they create art on DWTS? You get paid to teach a bunch of Z-list celebrities with two left feet how to look somewhat presentable as a dancer on live TV.