Gleb Savchenko has publicly slammed Alan Bersten’s dancing ability after Bersten was tapped to replace suspended pro Val Chmerkovskiy on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Savchenko, 43, made the comments during a TikTok livestream where he discussed the replacement choice for “Dedication Night.” The former “DWTS” pro did not hold back in his assessment of Bersten, 32, who won the Mirrorball Trophy with Hannah Brown in 2019.
“Alan, I think he’s Alan. I mean, he’s just not up to the level of dancing, like, period — quality, the technique,” he said bluntly.
“He’s a good dancer, I guess, for TV, but if we talk about art? Like, creating art? He’s like, eh,” he continued. “I don’t want to like, talk s–t about people, I’m just being honest.”
Savchenko then questioned why producers selected Bersten over other options from the show’s troupe, specifically suggesting someone else should have been paired with Chmerkovskiy’s celebrity partner, “Step Up” actress Jenna Dewan.
“I don’t have anything against the guy, just, like, why Alan?” Savchenko questioned during the stream.
The criticism carries extra sting given that Bersten has won the competition while Savchenko never has. Bersten’s victory with Brown on Season 28 stands in contrast to Savchenko’s record — his best finish across multiple seasons was fourth place, achieved three separate times.
Bersten and his current partner, Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis, were already eliminated from Season 35 during “Viral Hits Night” in week two. Savchenko, meanwhile, was cut from the pro lineup ahead of this season after competing since 2016, though he has publicly embraced the departure.
“Nothing but love and gratitude for all the years in that ballroom,” he posted on Instagram last month. “Excited for this next chapter — and wishing everyone an amazing season. 🪩.”
“No sad messages,” he added. “We’re moving forward. 😉.”
Chmerkovskiy, 38, earned his one-week suspension after posting a since-deleted TikTok status that referenced Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slap while defending his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson. The comment followed a tense on-air exchange between Johnson and judge Carrie Ann Inaba during a live show.
“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” Chmerkovskiy wrote, seemingly alluding to Smith striking Chris Rock before warning him to keep wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s name out of his mouth.
Inaba and viewers criticized the remark, leading producers to sideline Chmerkovskiy for the week. The dancer issued an apology Saturday, saying in a statement that he “made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention.”
“Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,” he said, adding that he does not want to “be a distraction” from Dewan’s competition efforts.
Savchenko’s livestream broadsides add another layer of off-screen tension to a season already marked by controversy. The show’s “Dedication Night” will proceed with Bersten stepping in for Chmerkovskiy, despite the former pro’s very public doubts about his readiness.
“Dancing with the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+.