Dancing With the Stars pro Louis van Amstel understands what Maks Chmerkovskiy was trying to say about Jan Ravnik.
“There was a little riff going on about Maks criticizing Jan, but then that was big of Maks to go on social media and invite Jan publicly to go for coffee, to talk it up,” Louis, 53, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Friday, October 31. “I have to agree, the content of what Maks was talking about, I totally agree. Jan has no ballroom dance experience. You can see it. He has no teaching experience, but he is a fantastic dancer and even better person.”
Maks, 45, first made headlines when he appeared on Peta Murgatroyd‘s “The Penthouse With Peta” podcast. While chatting with his wife, the Dancing With the Stars alum questioned how Jan, 30, got a spot as one of this season’s professional dancers.
“I’m sorry, Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on Dancing With the Stars,” Maks claimed. “There’s zero foundation technique, quality, understanding of the partnership. Bro, I’m getting emotional. It is absurd, and this is unreal how blind we have to be and God forbid say what’s obviously there.”
On Thursday, October 30, Maks publicly apologized to Jan in a TikTok video and expressed hopes that they could one day be friends.
From Louis’ perspective, Maks wasn’t criticizing Jan as a human.
“It’s more about the ballroom dance experience,” he explained to Us. “Here’s the other thing, too. People criticize Maks and attack him and ultimately, the delivery could have been different. But Jan would have been stupid if he would have said no to Dancing With the Stars.”
If people don’t think Jan should be a professional dancer on the ABC reality show, Louis suggested that they should take it up with someone else — like producers.
“Do I agree with Maks that Jan has no ballroom experience and no teaching experience in ballroom dancing? Yes,” Louis continued. “And Maks always says what many people think, and I will always back him up like his brother, Val. You can disagree with him all you want, but he says what most people are thinking.”
In a separate interview with Access Hollywood, Val Chmerkovskiy said he will always have his brother’s back — even if he doesn’t agree with his remarks regarding Jan.
“You don’t have to like what he said. I don’t have to agree with what he said,” he explained. “But I’m always going to stand up for him.”
Regardless of any drama, Louis is excited to have the opportunity to return to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom for the show’s upcoming 20th Birthday Party episode on Tuesday, November 11.
Louis — who is the creator of LaBlast Fitness — helped launch the show in 2005 when he partnered up with The Bachelorette’s Trista Sutter. He went on to dance with several contestants over the years, including Lisa Rinna, Priscilla Presley, Paula Deen and Niecy Nash.
“Most memorable was season nine [with] Kelly Osborne,” Louis recalled. “That was a journey for the books. That not only affected her. It affected me profoundly. It affected so many people who watch the show. Her weight loss was secondary, but seeing her blossom from the ground up to a princess, and I just love her and her family so much.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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