Maks Chmerkovskiy talks segment that made him | TV Shows

Former Dancing With the Stars professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy could have been identified as the “bad boy of the ballroom” during his time on the show, but even he’s admitting that the In Memoriam segment during the ABC actuality sequence’s twentieth anniversary bought him emotional.

The episode, which marked 20 years since the show went on the air, featured the return of former champions, DWTS’ former longtime host, Tom Bergeron, and even the season one professionals as it celebrated its successes.

With a number of former rivals also current in the ballroom to watch the performances, the show also took time to replicate on the lives of rivals who had handed away since their time on the show.

An in memoriam segment featured photographs of celebrities who had handed away, including a small group of former rivals from throughout the seasons.

Now, as he mentioned the episode on a new episode of the Penthouse with Peta podcast, Chmerkovskiy, 45, admitted that the segment did get him emotional, particularly since it honored one of his former companions.

“I felt the second biggest, most heartfelt part was what is that called, In Memoriam?” he said. “First of all, Ezra [Sosa] and Rylee [Arnold] did a great dance, you know, giving it the forefront.”

“But those are my people. You know, it’s my era, people who drew tears a little bit like when Kirstie Alley popped up and like, ‘[it] overcame me a little bit,” he added. “So, you know, these things come back. Those are people that I remember, and I realized, wow, they passed away.”

Alley competed with Chmerkovskiy on the show’s twelfth season in 2011, where they positioned second. She then teamed up with him a second time on the show’s All Stars (Season 15) the next yr, where they got here in seventh.

She was among a number of celebrities who have been honored during the tribute. Others included Jerry Springer (Season 3), Aaron Carter (Season 9), Shannen Doherty (Season 10), Florence Henderson (Season 11), Anne Heche (Season 29) and more.

Alley died in December 2022 following a battle with cancer. She was 71.

Chemerkovskiy paid tribute to her on social media after her death.

“My dearest Kirstie, We haven’t spoken lately and I’ll tell you everything when I finally see you, but for now I want to say that I love you very much and I wish you the most peaceful rest,” he wrote at the time. “You were one of the most unique people I have ever met and easily one of the brightest moments of my personal and professional life. Some of our relationship is heavily documented. Most of it is known to select few. All of it was like a wild rollercoaster. From Maude to DJ Lil Buttercup you were always all in for life.”

“I thought you’d be around forever. I wish we spoke often. Thank you for everything. I love you Kirstie Alley. RIP.”

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Chmerkovskiy also opened up about his relationship with Alley in 2024, admitting that they argued about his “flirty” actions, after she misinterpreted their “lack of personal space” during rehearsals.

“[Alley] is like, ‘You’re so flirty,’” he said on an episode of Getting Grilled with Curtis Stone. “I’m having a heart attack, because I don’t know what else to do. How to figure this out. I’m sitting here, ripping my hair out. She’s like, ‘You’re so flirty.’ I’m like ‘I’m not flirting with you.’ Why would you say that? She’s like, ‘Well, look at where your hands are?’ I’m like, ‘Where’s my hand?’ ‘It’s on my butt.’”

Further recalling he had to inform her he was only taking part in his hand where her middle of gravity was, it led to a tense interplay.

“She’s standing like, ‘You’re an a—–.’ I’m like, ‘What? I’m explaining factually like what I’m doing,’” he recalled. “So, you know, just because you’re not used to that hand placement doesn’t mean that we’re having this flirtation, right? But if this is not communicated, she’s walking away thinking, ‘Oh, my God. He’s hitting on me. He’s hitting on me the entire rumba.’ I’m like, ‘No I’m not! I’m just trying to make it look like a rumba.’”

Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays on ABC and Disney+.