Dancing With the Stars Val Chmerkovskiy is opening up about who he does — and doesn’t — want to see compete on the show.
“Less politicians,” Chmerkovskiy exclusively told Us Weekly on Saturday, April 25, while attending Jennie Garth and iHeartPodcast’s “I Choose Me” live summit at the iHeartRadio Theatre in Burbank, California.
“One of the things I admire about our show, I love being a part of the fact that in a world quite literally designed to split us all apart and create agony amongst people, we’re a show that creates union and brings people together,” the professional dancer continued. “Yes, it’s just a dance show, but it’s way more than just a dance show.”
Chmerkovskiy added, “Dance is just a vehicle to bring people together — of all ages, all political sides. No one knows who’s voting for who, and we’re all just enjoying ourselves and enjoying two hours a week of just good family fun.”
Dancing With the Stars has invited plenty of controversial political figures to compete over the years, including former Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
“My reaction was like, ‘Yo, Sean Spicer’s on the cast!’ That was my reaction calling my brother,” Chmerkovskiy told People in September 2019 after the former Trump administration official was cast in Season 28 of the reality competition show.
“But then in the same breath, it’s like, and so is Ray Lewis and so is Lamar Odom and so is Christie Brinkley and so is Hannah [Brown],” he continued. “The thing that makes our show unique and wild and crazy and entertaining is the fact that it’s a collective of all these different people. And you don’t have to agree or follow all these people.”
He added at the time, “They’re all very different. And the beauty, me being a dance ambassador, is — what I find a lot of pride in is how inclusive dance is and that it doesn’t judge based on any of the past.”
While Chmerkovskiy is hoping he won’t have any political dancing partners anytime soon, he is open to the idea of doing the fox trot with Summer House’s Ciara Miller after her ex West Wilson and former BFF Amanda Batula announced their platonic relationship had turned romantic — without her knowing.
“Of course! Ciara seems very, very dynamic and very positive, and looks like she’s excited to do the show,” he told Us on Saturday. “Maura seems very lovely as well. I can’t predict either one of them being my partner.”
He added, “It’s kind of like quiet dating or an arranged situation so whoever the casting director puts me with, I will give my all and like I said, every season, they’ll have my undivided attention and effort and focus, and I’ll give them everything I got.”
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