It appears tensions are high this season on “Dancing With the Stars,” particularly for professional dancer Jenna Johnson. According to her brother-in-law Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Johnson is grappling with significant challenges in working with her partner, actor Corey Feldman. Chmerkovskiy, a previous winner of the dance competition himself, revealed that Johnson is finding her partnership with Feldman notably difficult this time around.
The challenges faced by Johnson, who has won the mirrorball trophy twice before, appear to stem from Feldman’s difficulty in learning choreography and maintaining a strong work ethic. At 54, the “Stand by Me” actor is reportedly out of his comfort zone with dancing, which has impacted their performances. Chmerkovskiy emphasized the demanding nature of the show, grueling rehearsals, public appearances, and interviews, which all add to the pressure on the participants.
Despite these difficulties, Chmerkovskiy remains confident in Johnson’s capabilities as a coach. He acknowledged Johnson as a “tough coach” who can stand her ground and encourages respect for her experience and achievements. He believes her skills will prevail, allowing her to succeed with Feldman eventually.
Behind the scenes, reports suggest that Johnson and her husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, another “DWTS” professional, are dealing with challenging partnerships. Both have allegedly been unhappy with their respective pairings this season, with Val being teamed up with influencer Alix Earle. However, producers have reportedly warned them against openly expressing dissatisfaction with their celebrity partners.
Johnson and Feldman’s debut performance met with criticism, receiving a low score of 9 out of 20, hinting at the struggles they are facing. Prior to the season premiere, Johnson had even mentioned on social media that she hadn’t seen Feldman for a week, which indicates potential communication difficulties between them.
Despite the rocky start, Johnson’s track record as a proven champion suggests she may be able to navigate these hurdles and guide her partner towards improving their performances in upcoming episodes. With determination and experience on her side, fans are hopeful she can turn the season around and captivate the audience once more.