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Val Chmerkovskiy Reacts to Ciara Miller Wanting Him as Her DWTS Partner
Val Chmerkovskiy isn’t sashaying away from offering criticism.
In fact, the Dancing With the Stars pro had plenty of candid thoughts to share with Danielle Fishel as they recapped episode two of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.
Chmerkovskiy admitted that he was slightly put-off by some of the contestants vying to be a pro on season 35 of DWTS. At one point, he called out AJ Pritchard, who previously appeared as a professional dancer on the BBC One dance competition Strictly Come Dancing, for allegedly acting arrogant while competing with partner Selena Hamilton on The Next Pro.
“It makes good TV at his expense. I guess that's how I want to say it,” Chmerkovskiy shared on the July 21 episode of his and Fishel’s Stepping on Toes podcast. “I wish he wrapped that arrogance into a little softer presentation.”
The 40-year-old added, “I understand if he's coming in with this feeling of like—I’m not gonna say entitlement, I don't want to use that word. But if he comes in with not a chip on his shoulder, but kind of like, ‘What am I even doing here? Why do I have to go through this process if I already know I'm good enough and I already did this.’ I can appreciate that, but dude, then don't sign up for the show.”
And while he was well aware that Pritchard had won his fair share of awards—including the British Open Dance Championship, which Chmerkovskiy called the “Wimbledon of dance”—he didn’t feel that it warranted Pritchard’s over-confidence.
“We all got pedigree. Everybody’s won something,” the 40-year-old said. “I appreciate that he's a well accomplished competitive dancer and he does have experience already at this job—he had this job.”
Leon Bennett/Getty Images for 20th Century Studios
Yet, Chmerkovskiy—who has been married to fellow pro Jenna Johnson since 2019—questioned why Pritchard would sign up for The Next Pro if he felt that he was already ahead of the rest of the contestants because of his background.
“If you are going to show up, you gotta have humility in the sense that you got to prove yourself right now,” Chmerkovskiy said. “There's a reason why you're here and no longer have a job there. So to be here, be present. Don't live in the past.”
E! News has reached out to Pritchard's rep for comment but has not heard back.
Disney/Vince Valitutti
Regardless, Chmerkovskiy is grateful that a new crop of dancers have the opportunity to appear on Dancing With the Stars.
“We have a lot of incredible talent in the competitive ballroom community,” Chmerkovskiy said. “Dancing With the Stars has been a vehicle to broadcast that talent to a wider audience and very few have enjoyed it—and it’s been life changing. It's nice to not gatekeep this awesomeness and allow a new generation to come in and enjoy it.”
“But,” the three-time Mirrorball trophy winner warned, “they'll have to go through me.”
While Fishel laughed that he would “welcome them in,” Chmerkovskiy joked he would also “welcome them out.”
“This will be a brief stop,” he added. “We’ll see you next season.”
To learn all about the dancers competing on the first season of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, keep reading.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Erik Linder
When the Swedish-born performer isn't busting a move in the dance studio, he's catching waves surfing in Los Angeles where he currently resides.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Natalie Jolley
Awards and titles? This pro's got plenty. Natalie is a proud eight-time U.S. national dance champion, a six-time U.K. champion, a four-time international champion and has won the World Smooth Championships four times.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Selena Hamilton
Selena has appeared alongside KATSEYE in GAP's iconic choreography-focused 2025 ad campaign and has also toured as a backup dancer for Doechii.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Tristen Sanders
The Georgia native specializes in hip hop in addition to ballroom.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Stephani Sosa
If this Latin powerhouse looks familiar, it's because her brother is none other than DWTS pro Ezra Sosa.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Briar Nolet
The Los Angeles-based dancer and model has found quite the social media fandom with over 800,000 Instagram users following her every footstep in the dance studio.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
AJ Pritchard
This Brit knows how to work it for the TV cameras. The older brother of Love Island alum Curtis Pritchard made it to the semi-finals on season seven of Britain's Got Talent before spending four seasons as a pro on Strictly Come Dancing. So, he’s no stranger to being judged by The Next Pro’s Shirley Ballas.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Adele Zaikman
This Israeli Ukrainian athlete currently resides in Los Angeles where she works as a performer and dance teacher.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Allen Genkin
Based in San Jose, Calif., he’s graced the DWTS dance floor before, winning the show's "Ballroom Battle" challenge in 2012.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Nina Mayster
Nina owns and runs her own Pennsylvania dance studio.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Benji Castro
This Miami artist made it to the top seven competing on So You Think You Can Dance? season 16.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Jake Monreal
Another member in the DWTS extended family, he competed on Dancing With the Stars Juniors in 2018 before appearing on season 13 of So You Think You Can Dance?, where he placed seventh.
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