Maksim Chmerkovskiy recently announced that he’s leaving his position as a pro on Dancing with The Stars. He’s left before for a couple of seasons and returned but apparently this is permanent. I guess that explains his very PR-friendly maybe-romance with Jennifer Lopez. (Thanks to Kaiser for reminding me of that because I honestly forgot.) Maksim has to raise his profile so he can move on to whatever he’s going to do next, maybe in another role on DWTS or maybe somewhere else. He’s done several interviews, including on Watch What Happens Live, where celebrities get drunk and talk smack. (Which we appreciate very much.)
On WWHL, someone called in and asked Maksim if he thought DWTS had run it’s course and he was like “no, it’s a brilliant show but they made a lot of changes and they’re running out of legitimate celebrities.” (That’s paraphrased, his exact quote is below.) Then someone else asked him if he’s still friends with his partner from 2011, Kirstie Alley, and he pretty much said that Kirstie cut ties with him because he was hanging out with Scientologist defector Leah Remini. So even people who associate with “suppressive persons” get shunned I guess. It’s called “disconnection” to cut off people who leave the cult. Maksim doesn’t seem to care much. E! has a nice breakdown of Maksim’s quotes:
“I saw that there were a lot of changes last season. I took a year off. I skipped two seasons and I came back. I personally fell in love with the show. It’s not something I need to say now that I’m not even part of it, but it’s definitely amazing entertainment…I do think it needs to stay on. I’m a big supporter of anything dance related. And I think it’s brilliant,” Maks said. “My problem is that we’re running out of legitimate celebrities. That’s the problem.”
In recent weeks, Maks has been romantically linked to Jennifer Lopez and hanging out with Leah Remini. Host Andy Cohen told Maks that Remini said he and J.Lo were not dating. “She’s the authority on everything J.Lo, so we should listen,” Maks said.
Remini made headlines for denouncing Scientology, something that didn’t sit well with Alley. Maks’ friendship with Remini apparently also doesn’t sit well with Alley. When asked about his relationship, Maks said they got along “until recently.” Pressed further, Maks explained:
“She stopped getting along with me. No, I think the world of her. I’m not judging people by their religion. I’m Jewish and you know, I don’t really believe in science fiction, but whatever. You know, we had a great relationship. I thought we had a great relationship. If it were something else or not, I don’t know,” he said. “But I got a message that now that I am associating with other people that she can’t be associated with. I am no longer to be spoken with. Sorry, but it is what it is… I love people. I don’t judge them. My best friend is Muslim, Tony. I don’t condone anybody’s religion. I don’t judge anybody by their religious beliefs. I just feel like, you know it’s sad that we’ve gone through so much together and I feel like I’ve helped her and this is where we’re at now. But I still think the world of her. I wish her all the best.”
Maksim has always been a bit of a loudmouth but he knows enough to praise DWTS while kind of outlining why he left. He seems like a royal jerk to me, but he knows how to play the game and how to say his piece while couching it in compliments. He’s not burning bridges with DWTS and it’s thought that he might take another role on the show.
Kirstie Alley is so brainwashed. Maksim even supported her by showing up to the launch of her TV show late last year, but that doesn’t matter to her because he won’t stop talking to Leah Remini. I would feel sorry for Kirstie if she wasn’t so self righteous. Leah is having the last laugh, although I tried to watch her new reality show and found it humorless. She has a very dry, acerbic personality. Maybe years of auditing will do that to you.
Kirstie has another reason to be mad at the world. Her TV Land show, Kirstie, has been canceled after one season. I feel bad for Rhea Perlman but Kirstie and Michael Richards can suck it.
Maksim is shown with Kirstie Alley in December, 2013. All other photos are from 2014. Credit: WENN.com and FameFlynet
Shunned by Kirstie Alley. Woooooooo. How WILL he face life after that?
Okay, I laughed too hard at this.
He’s going to be woefully low on useless vitamin supplements.
LOL, good one!
Kirstie’s show was AWFUL. I don’t have much respect for her for a number of reasons.
Is he breaking into a dance, there, on the way out of the supermarket in his neon sneakers, or was there an artichoke mishap where one got stuck up his butt? I think it could go either way.
Oooh, Kristie won’t talk to me ’cause I’m friends with Leah. Have we been transported back to the Bieber thread?
Cue the smear campaign against in 3, 2, 1 … Because according to Scientology, this doesn’t happen. They called Leah a liar for saying that.
I see. So it was her idea to cut ties with people she’s known for 20+ years. Clearly the CO$ thinks we’re all idiots. Good to know
In this article, it’s Maksim saying this happened, not Leah.
I know that. I was referencing the fact that when Leah said she was directed by the “Church” to cut ties with people who left and when she (Leah) said that people who’d been her friends for years cut HER off when she left, the “Church” came out in full force saying that she was making it all up. My point was that they will now begin to malign Maks.
” I don’t really believe in science fiction ….” OMG I love it
yeah, that was some nice shade right there.
Yep, he gained a little more respect for that one.
And can you really be shunned by Kristie Alley? I don’t think that’s possible.
That was some nice shade he dropped. Very backhanded. However, if you are going to let religion get in a way of a real friendship, then I feel sorry for all those small minded $cis.
I’m not sure he is using the word condone in the way he meant to….
I caught that too, LOL. I think he meant “condemn”. He needs to revisit his “Word a Day” calendar. :-/
I caught that too. I think he meant to say condemn. Is English his second language. I think it is.
I am not saying this to start an attack Tom Cruise thing because this is not really about him, but I wonder if this is why we don’t see him with Suri in public anymore. I’m sure he probably see her, but I would imagine that he can’t be “Public” because of all the other COS members that have to “disconnect” with their children/family/friends.
Very sad to live like that. I don’t understand it.
Plus he got called on staging the photo ops with her for PR. That, combined with the CO$ rules as you said, apparently equals no more Tom & Suri photos.
You’re right-but English isn’t his first language so I’ll cut him massive slack.
If English isn’t his 1st language, then I get it. COS just depresses me. I don’t get why they don’t have more people defecting.
English isn’t his first language. I can see how it’s easy to make a mistake like that.
Kirstie needs to shut up and go away. The irony is that her behaviour (and other Scientologists behaviour) of shunning deserters only makes their religion look more ridiculous and cult-like.
Eventually, there will be only a total of about three people that they can associate with, and one of them is Tom Cruise. It seems like straight out masochism.
Because, of course, it is a cult.
Totally.
Someone should tell Kirstie that once you turn 60, you might think about growing up! What is it about COS that turn their members into asshats?
I’m sure Leah and Maksim are shaking in their boots.
Agreed.Kirstie does need to grow up.Yes I understand that they helped her with a drug problem,but this is a cult and the members act like zombies.Leah and Maksim come off as very strong personalities.I don’t think they really care.I am glad Kirstie’s show bombed.It was horrible from the few I saw.She is just strange now.I saw her on a repeat of Dr.Oz and she kept insisting on how much weight she had lost on her own products.She was spandexed to death and didn’t look any different.Now she is representing Jenny Craig again.I still think she drinks but that is just my thoughts maybe.
Not only that but Jenny Craig is endorsing her $ci vitamins. I’ve lost respect for that company.
Hollywood is all about connections. If you keep shunning people in the business because of their religious beliefs, how will you find work?
“I don’t believe in science fiction”
I see what you did there, Maks.
I hate to say it, but Scientology makes me nervous. Maks better check under the bed for Thetan powder or whatever Xenu send to “disconnected’ enemies of CoS.
I am sure he, like the rest of us, will not lose sleep over that fool shunning him.
I could never stand Alley. Horrible person she is.
Gosh, Kirstie Alley must really lead a lonely existence. If she can’t associate with anybody who’s ever been critical of her religion – and anyone with friends critical of her religion – how many people can she really keep close to? I love that Leah Remini was so open about leaving, but it was especially awesome to see that her whole family went with her and supported her.
Oh, BTW – if you want to look at a “science fiction” style religion that actually is relatively harmless and likeable, look at these people: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%ABlism (I have actually met a few of them once through a Divinity school friend, and they’re actually quite sweet and throw really fun parties).
Kirstie Alley sounds like a street name in Harry Potterverse. i wonder what you can find there.
Ah Kirstie, mature and kind as always. If CO$ is supposed to bring about such enlightenment, why is she so miserable and mean?
I really do admire Leah for breaking free and not being afraid to speak on it, but I saw her on Hollywood Game Night recently, and just wanted to smother her with a pillow. I always found her a bit grating, but she was drunk and obnoxious. But I’d still go Team Leah over Team Kirstie.
No big loss, Maks. I’m sure he’ll find the strength to carry on somehow.
He looks like Joey Fatone.
I can’t stand Maks anymore, I used to like him a lot. His attitude stinks, he was so rude to the judges on DWTS and to Erin Andrews (this season) when she was talking to the couples after they danced. She handled it very well though.
He comes across as such an immature guy – to me at least, half-man-half-boy.
Maks, hon, most people would be glad to have Kirstie Alley shun them!
And he’s right that they’ve run DWtS into the ground, mostly because of far too many seasons. They should have done one series a year, nothing more.
I wanted to love Leah’s new reality show. I watched the first two shows, couldn’t finish the second show. Cringeworthy doing the so desperate mom wants obituaries written she can see what they say about her. Really? Two shows in and you have a fake party and then a fake funeral for a storyline? It’s was so contrived and so much mugging for the camera trying to be cute. She’s so talented, and I thought it would be great. What a waste of talent. Get her on a new sitcom stat.
I tried as well, but I couldn’t get into it, more so because of the extended family. I really enjoyed her VH1 specials when she was getting married and during her pregnancy. I know she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I like her personality.
Kirstie shunning him is a good thing. No one needs to waste time with the Co$ crazies. I call BS on the J.lo relationship. Her team started that rumor and is keeping it in the press. It was very conveniently timed to her album release. He wasn’t even in the US when the rumor started. Anyone who has followed J.Lo ever knows that she lives all her romances very publicly. She is not all of the sudden going to have a secret relationship. If they were a couple, there would a crap ton of paparazzi pictures of them together.
Is it just me, ’cause I think Maks is hot. He’s clearly Russian and his body is insane. That is all.
Plus, he’s Jewish! Yay for studly Jewish men. I like him, too.
Lesson of the Day: Have at least one ex-Scientologist as a friend so that current Scientologists will leave you alone…
Oh, Maks, Kirstie blocked me on Twitter. I know just how you feel…
Scientology is a dangerous and sometimes deadly cult that mercilessly squeezes money out of its adherents until they are broke or dead. While I pity most of the members, I reserve my contempt for the wealthy and famous (or in KA’s case, infamous) who refuse to read the facts about the cult and benefit from the slave labor of the Sea Org.
I’m looking at you, Mr. Cruise.
Slightly off topic, but there are some rumours floating around the anti-scientology blogs that Tom Cruise and David Miscavige aren’t exactly BFFs any more. The divorce from Katie was clearly done to protect Suri from the clutches of scientology, and the subsequent bad press Tom got may be sinking into his brain-washed little head that preferring his whackdoodle “religion” over his daughter may have been the wrong choice. Let’s hope it’ s true. Tommy Davis, allegedly Suri’s bio father, and his wife have quietly left the “church”.
Wow … did not know that someone else was the alleged bio father. It does make sense, his children with Nicole K. are adopted and I thought it strange that afterwards he would have a child with K.H.
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I thought his comment about K.A and CO$ were priceless!
The guy could have a second career as a diplomat. He managed to tell the truth in some detail but gently.
Don’t feel too bad for Rhea Perlman. She’s already booked another gig. She’s going to play Danny’s mom on The Mindy Project. (Yay! The Tortellis are Dr. Castellano’s parents!!! :))
She’s a troll.