Bristol Palin opens up about her experience on Dancing With the Stars, revealing tensions with pro dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy and discussing the impact of body shaming during her time on the show.
Bollywood Fever: Bristol Palin is taking a look back at her time on Dancing With the Stars (DWTS), shedding light on her experiences and the challenges she faced behind the scenes.
During an appearance on the August 25 episode of Cheryl Burke’s podcast, Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans, Palin revealed that one of the show’s pro dancers, Maks Chmerkovskiy, wasn’t particularly fond of her during her run on the show.
Palin first competed on DWTS during season 11 in 2010 and later returned for the Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars season in 2012.
Throughout both seasons, she was paired with pro dancer Mark Ballas. Despite their success, which saw them place third in season 11, Palin recalled that not everyone was pleased with their progress, particularly Maks Chmerkovskiy.
When Burke, who also competed on DWTS, asked Palin who would roll their eyes at her and Ballas whenever they advanced through eliminations, Palin didn’t hesitate. “Oh, who? Maks? He hated me so much,” Palin said, reflecting on the tension. “I don’t know why [he didn’t like me]. Just because we kept going through? He was real nice in the beginning … I definitely felt the tension from him. I forgot about that.”
Palin and Ballas’ journey on DWTS wasn’t without controversy. Their season 11 run sparked uproar among fans and fellow competitors, as the duo consistently dodged elimination despite receiving low scores from the judges.
The show’s format combines judges’ scores with fan voting, which allowed Palin and Ballas to continue advancing.
In addition to discussing her interactions with Chmerkovskiy, Palin also opened up about the challenges she faced with her partner Mark Ballas during their time on All-Stars.
Reflecting on a segment that highlighted tension between them, Palin explained, “I think we were disagreeing on how much effort was being put in. I think we just weren’t taking it seriously. Like, I think I wanted to actually take it seriously and rehearse more. And I think that’s probably what the conversation was.”
Beyond the competition itself, Palin revealed the emotional toll of being publicly scrutinized over her weight during her time on the show.
Just 19 years old when she first competed, the Teen Mom OG alum recounted the struggles she faced with body image. “It was hard. It was really hard. And I mean, my weight fluctuates,” she said. “It was like everyone was talking about my weight, and then I was stressed out about my weight. I felt like I was just eating even more and gaining even more weight. It was just like a vicious cycle and it affected my confidence so much for years to come because it was such a topic.”
Palin also recalled hearing comedian Kathy Griffin allegedly mock her weight on a show, comparing her to the “white version of Precious.” Reflecting on the incident, Palin expressed her hurt, particularly considering how such comments would impact her as a mother. “It just bugs me so bad because I would be so upset if somebody was talking about my daughter like that,” she said.
Bristol Palin first entered the public eye when her mother, Sarah Palin, was chosen as the vice-presidential running mate to the late Senator John McCain during the 2008 election.
At the time, Palin was 17 years old and pregnant with her first child, son Tripp, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Levi Johnston. Palin is also the mother of daughters Sailor, 8, and Atlee, 7, whom she shares with ex-husband Dakota Meyer.
As she reflects on her experiences, Palin’s candid revelations shed light on the pressures and challenges she faced both on and off the dance floor, offering a glimpse into the complex world of reality television and the impact of public scrutiny.
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