They crashed to the floor again and again – and again – trying to master a technically challenging two-person cartwheel in rehearsals this week.
Perhaps the professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars and influencer Alix Earle should view their stumbles as a hint: Their collaboration might not be strong enough to secure a victory.
For behind the dazzling smiles and the cutesy TikTok comments they post, Chmerkovskiy is feeling ‘demoralized’ in his pairing, according to a source close to the couple.
Allegedly, the professional dancer is even secretly wishing he had been partnered with a more ‘desirable’ celebrity than Earle, 24, a social media personality. It’s a fear that’s also rocking his fellow cast member Gleb Savchenko, who has been paired with Hilaria Baldwin (more on her later).
Chmerkovskiy, 39, has also reportedly been preoccupied with his wife Jenna Johnson – another DWTS dancer – who was first to be eliminated last week, along with her partner Corey Feldman. Former NBA star Baron Davis and Britt Stewart were also voted out last week.
Now, a source has told the Daily Mail that Chmerkovskiy and Johnson believe this was always going to be an ‘unwinnable season’ for them.
Val Chmerkovskiy (pictured, right) is reportedly feeling ‘demoralized’ and is secretly wishing he had been partnered with a more ‘desirable’ celebrity than Alix Earle (pictured, left)
Chmerkovskiy, 39, has reportedly been preoccupied with his wife Jenna Johnson (pictured, left) who became the first to be eliminated with Corey Feldman (pictured, right)
The Daily Mail previously revealed how Johnson, 31, had been feeling deflated after working with Feldman, 54. She was reportedly struggling to cope with his poor work ethic and lack of dance experience. Her brother-in-law Maksim Chmerkovskiy laid bare the difficulty she was facing, demanding she be shown the ‘respect’ she deserves.
‘This has been a hard season for everyone, really,’ our source said. ‘It’s not as joyful as other seasons. There’s no magic this year, and it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why. We’ve had contestants before who are weird or who don’t try, or are controversial – that’s nothing new. But somehow, this mix isn’t working.
‘Val and Jenna realize that, yes, not everyone gets an Olympic gymnast or skater, but it’s demoralizing when you get someone who isn’t going to try. So, they’re trying not to be poor sports, but this season has left a stain on them both.’
Ukrainian-born Chmerkovskiy joined the show in 2006 and has won three times. His first victory was with Rumer Willis (2015), the second was Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez (2016) and third was actress Xochitl Gomez (2023). But, according to our insider, he doesn’t think that a fourth victory is possible with 24-year-old.
‘Alix is fine… but he’s jealous of the contestants who have great attitudes,’ our insider said.
Viewers have picked up on an apparent lack of chemistry between the influencer and Chmerkovskiy, with some struggling to find Earle ‘likeable.’ One person posted on Reddit last week: ‘Alix and Val seem to have zero chemistry and I can see if there’s tension.’
Another wrote: ‘Does anyone else feel like Val and Alix have really bad chemistry? All of the remaining couples seem to really like each other and those two just exist together awkwardly.’
Others have suggested that Earle’s anxiety – something she has talked openly about – could be contributing to nerves.
Either way, Chmerkovskiy would reportedly prefer to be with actress Danielle Fishel, who, despite a hamstring tear, pushed through the pain to score a 19 out of 30 for her Cha Cha with Pasha Pashkov last week. It was just two points less than Chmerkovskiy and Earle’s score.
Chmerkovskiy would reportedly prefer to compete with Danielle Fishel (pictured, right), who, despite a hamstring tear, pushed through the pain to score a 19 out of 30 for her Cha Cha with Pasha Pashkov (pictured, left)
Professional dancer Gleb Savchenko, 42, is also reportedly concerned about his partnership with Alec Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria Baldwin (pictured)
‘Danielle Fishel or Elaine Hendrix may not ultimately win, but they are having fun, and their partners are having fun with them,’ the insider said. ‘And the pros always feel like those contestants are desirable.
‘Danielle is likely the one who will go that far. And Val would have loved to be partnered with her.’
The Daily Mail is also told it’s not just Chmerkovskiy who isn’t thrilled with his pairing.
Fellow professional Savchenko, 42, is reportedly starting to question his match-up with Hilaria Baldwin, wife of actor Alec Baldwin.
Despite loving that the yoga instructor and mom-influencer has ‘authentic’ ballroom dancing experience, he allegedly fears the public’s apparent dislike of her could cost him the win. He has been waiting a decade to lift the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
‘After last week’s votes, it was shocking for him to learn that [Baldwin is] not everyone’s favorite,’ another insider told the Daily Mail. ‘It just shows that it really doesn’t matter how good of a dancer you are – it’s all about the viewers’ votes. They decide who’s staying and who’s going home.’
The duo scored 21 out of 30 last week for their tango, a seven point increase on the 14 they received for their week one Cha Cha.
An early elimination ‘would crush Gleb to the core’ as winning has been his ‘dream ever since he joined DWTS.’ But winning over the viewers is no easy feat – especially since Baldwin has already irked them in the three weeks since this season kicked off.
‘After last week’s votes, it was shocking for him to learn that she’s not everyone’s favorite,’ said an insider about Baldwin. Pictured: Savchenko (left) and Baldwin (right)
First, she was questioned on why she had reverted back to speaking with a Spanish accent during a recent interview with GMA. (In 2020, Baldwin was famously accused of fabricating her Spanish heritage and accent, having been born as Hillary Hayward-Thomas in an upscale Boston neighborhood, but presenting herself as Spanish.)
Last week, she was criticized again for seemingly encouraging viewers to mock her fellow contestants after she appeared to like a disparaging social media comment about them.
‘I haven’t seen any of the other stars liking comments that put the other dancers down and say the show lacks credibility because she didn’t get better scores than the other dancers,’ one Reddit user wrote on the platform.
Another said: ‘I’ve actually been open to her, even with her dance history, but this is off putting to me.’
For now, all Savchenko can do is hope for a great routine on Tuesday.
‘There’s definitely added pressure going into this week. He put in the work and created magic,’ the insider said. ‘He’s hoping a better routine showcasing more of Hilaria’s talent will win people over tonight.’
He’d better. It may be his last chance.
