It’s definitely not a match made in heaven.
Two-time “Dancing With the Stars” champ Jenna Johnson is having a “really difficult time” working with her partner this season, Corey Feldman, according to her brother-in-law, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
“Obviously, Jenna has a bit of an uphill climb with Corey, which is easy for everybody to say from [outside], 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,” he told the Daily Mail.
Chmerkovskiy — who himself won the mirrorball trophy in Season 18 during his time as a “DWTS” pro — implored others to have “respect” for Johnson.
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“You’re talking about a reigning champ, so put some respect on the name, everybody,” he said.
As for why Johnson, 31, is struggling with Feldman, 54, Chmerkovskiy surmised that it wasn’t his age, but his lack of dancing abilities and work ethic. He noted the “Stand by Me” actor was struggling with choreography and that the entire experience was out of his comfort zone.
“Don’t forget this production is not just about you and your partner dancing, it’s about this massive behemoth of everything that’s happening — the amount of people that you have to deal with, the amount of interviews, and this is all between your rehearsal time and your therapy, and you are trying to lick your wounds and all that stuff,” he shared.
Still, he had faith in Johnson’s abilities as a “tough coach.”
“That show requires you to be able to tell grown people what to do and stand your ground,” he said. “So I think Jenna will get it done.”
Both Johnson and her husband, fellow “DWTS” pro Val Chmerkovskiy, are allegedly “miserable” this season with their partners, a source also told the outlet.
Val is paired with influencer Alix Earle.
“Val and Jenna are miserable but they have been specifically warned by producers: ‘we don’t complain about our celebrity participants,’” the insider said.