5 Biggest Dancing With The Stars Controversies, Ranked

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

"Dancing with the Stars" is a reality show that focuses on celebrities' journeys learning to ballroom dance, but there's plenty of behind-the-scenes drama that sometimes spills onto the stage and impacts the series. There doesn't seem to be any rule in place about romances developing in the ballroom "office," so sparks can fly anywhere. Most couples have kept their personal drama from impacting the competition too much, but a married couple is at the center of one of the biggest controversies in "DWTS" history during Season 35 in 2026. 

It's impossible to break down every breakup, makeup, and shady comment thrown around on social media. But, the show is live, so plenty of controversy happens right in front of viewers' faces; sometimes, you just have to be quick enough to catch it. Over the years, judges, pros, and contestants have had plenty of harsh words for each other. Plus, there was a huge firing scandal. And, the most shocking win in "DWTS" history impacted the rules of the competition for many years. Here are the five biggest controversies in the show's history so far. Some are very juicy, but until the lights go out in the ballroom, there will always be more.

At its best, "Dancing with the Stars" is about celebrity contestants' emotional journeys as they learn to ballroom dance. The show has done a decent job of casting stars with different body types. Sadly, judges have occasionally gotten into hot water for body shaming people who don't have typical ballroom bodies, whether they meant to or not. 

Chaz Bono appeared on "DWTS" Season 13 with pro partner Lacey Schwimmer. The pair were eliminated during Week 6, after weeks of judge Bruno Tonioli comparing Bono's body to different animals. Tonioli's likening him to a penguin particularly hurt Bono, but he told Joy Behar in an interview after his elimination that his frustration was cumulative. "If he'd [only said the penguin comment] it wouldn't have gotten to me at all ... It was an Ewok one week, it was a basketball another week ... so all of these roundish objects." There's no record of Tonioli apologizing to Bono, but fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba defended his remarks in an interview on "Showbiz Tonight."

Amber Rose competed on Season 23 in 2016 with dance partner Maks Chmerkovskiy. During a week when they did a salsa to Jennifer Lopez's "Booty," while watching the routine, then regular judge Julianne Hough told Tonioli the dance made her feel "uncomfortable." Rose heard the comment and said the next week that it made her feel "shamed" and "embarrassed." Julianne said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight that she was judging the dance and that she doesn't "stand for" body shaming. The pair talked it through live and moved on.

Maks Chmerkovskiy has a history of tension with some of his past celebrity partners. But the most serious allegation against him came from his Season 13 partner, pro soccer player Hope Solo, who was on the show in 2011. In her 2012 memoir, "Solo: A Memoir of Hope," the athlete made disturbing allegations against Maks. "He was often nasty, swearing at me and being harshly critical. He manhandled me in rehearsals from the start, pushing me, whacking my stomach, bending my arms roughly." (via TV Guide) Solo also alleged that Maks once got so angry with her that he slapped her hard across the face. 

"He was extremely apologetic. I didn't care," Solo wrote. "My ear was ringing as I walked out, shaking. I had just been hit, and I had been worried about how I would come off looking on television." She said "DWTS" offered to pair her with someone else, but she didn't want to ruin Maks' career. Solo also claimed that there was footage of the incident, but it mysteriously disappeared.

Maks denied Solo's allegations via a representative and appeared to respond to them on social media when the memoir came out. In 2015, he was more explicit, calling her a "s****y person" on the "Allegedly" podcast and adding more detail in an appearance on "The Real" that same year. "We didn't have a good time on the show and it's been highly documented. I don't like her and that's the end of it."

The drama on Season 35 of "Dancing with the Stars" was unprecedented as it involved the show's first suspension of a dancer. Carrie Ann Inaba had criticism for Jenna Johnson for incorporating a lift into her choreography for Harry Shum Jr.'s samba routine on Super Bowl night. Johnson was reportedly in tears about it backstage and comforted by her husband, fellow dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, who was upset about the tone Inaba took with Johnson. 

Val later published and deleted a post online that was investigated by BBC Studios — and interpreted as a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, therefore a violent threat against Inaba. The Ukrainian-born dancer apologized for his post in an Instagram Story. "I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post," he wrote. "I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally, and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside of our internal 'DWTS 'family." Val said he "deeply" regretted the reference and said he'd do better as a role model moving forward.

Inaba and Val reconciled in the ballroom, and Val told People that their heart-to-heart, which was caught on camera, was "a cathartic relief." He continued, "It was just really important for me to make sure that she feels safe and knows that ... I want nothing but love for her." At the end of their conversation in the video, Inaba addressed onlookers, "We are coworkers and we are completely cordial. We are good, okay?" she said.

Radio personality Bobby Bones and his partner Sharna Burgess won "Dancing with the Stars" Season 27 much to the surprise of nearly everyone. Bones appeared in the finale with Milo Manheim, Evanna Lynch, and Alexis Ren. He was widely considered the weakest dancer of the finalists, and his scores from the judges reflected that. Ultimately, the popularity element of the competition prevailed. Many years later, it's not exactly Bones' win that's the issue, so much as the controversy it sparked afterward.

Firstly, him winning inspired a change in the rules involving a judges' save, in which the voters decided the bottom two or three dancers, and the judges' panel decided who to save from there (the rule has since been eliminated from the competition). It's also one of the most discussed wins in "DWTS" history since it was so surprising. Judges, hosts, and pros are continuously asked about it, and in 2025, Bones made headlines for saying he "cheated" by rehearsing extra time, although Entertainment Tonight noted it wasn't against the rules.

In November 2025, former "DWTS" host Tom Bergeron stirred up the controversy again by telling Parade that Bones' win was the most shocking. "Bobby Bones was the first time it was like, 'Ouch,'" he said. Bergeron clarified he meant no disrespect, but the hurtful comments prompted Bones to send his mirrorball trophy back soon after the article was published. Bones said he had a "minor meltdown" over the comments because he respected Bergeron; the friends have since reconciled.

Tom Bergeron hosted "Dancing with the Stars" from its premiere in 2005 until his exit in 2020 after 28 seasons. Although the shakeup shocked the world, it didn't shock Bergeron, who revealed on Bob Saget's podcast in 2021 (via People) that he cleared out his dressing room at the end of Season 28. "It was kind of obvious that we were kind of butting heads [behind-the-scenes]. It wasn't a pleasant [experience]," he said. Erin Andrews, who had been co-hosting the show since Season 18 in 2014, was fired alongside Bergeron in 2020 ahead of Season 29. 

As reported by TVLine, ABC and BBC Studios revealed in a joint statement that the duo was let go as part of the show pursuing a "new creative direction." Bergeron in particular had a history of butting heads with producers over casting decisions, most notably the inclusion of ex-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Season 28 in 2019. Bergeron said on former "DWTS" dancer Cheryl Burke's podcast (via People) that he had previous discussions with decision makers who agreed to stay away from controversial casting so "DWTS" could be an escape. "They had screwed me," he reflected. He released a statement vaguely addressing the matter, and told Burke that he knew he'd be leaving "DWTS" soon after because of the "betrayal."

The new creative direction producers took the show turned out to be a disaster, according to some fans. Bergeron and Andrews were replaced by Tyra Banks, who flubbed elimination results, exposed contestants' vulnerable moments to the audience, and wore costumes that brought more attention to herself.