Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Bombshell About Corey Feldman & Jenna Johnson

Behind the playful TikToks and lighthearted banter, things aren’t nearly as smooth for Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson on “Dancing with the Stars” as fans might think. Feldman may be hamming it up on social media, but insiders, and now Jenna’s brother-in-law Maksim Chmerkovskiy, say the actress-turned-dance pro is facing a major uphill battle with her partner. Feldman has already missed five crucial days of rehearsals leading up to the premiere, where the pair’s Tango earned them a disappointing nine out of 20, tying for the lowest score of the night.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Chmerkovskiy admitted that while the show’s cast often presents a united, cheerful front, the reality behind the scenes can be very different. “Obviously, Jenna has a bit of an uphill climb with Corey,” he explained. “From the outside it might look easy to joke about, but I know she’s having a much more difficult time with this entire thing … We’re talking about a reigning champ here, put some respect on the name, everybody.”

Chmerkovskiy, who attended the season premiere with wife Peta Murgatroyd, insisted Feldman’s struggles have less to do with age and more with keeping up with the demanding choreography and intense “DWTS” schedule. “It’s not just about you and your partner dancing,” he said. “It’s about this massive behemoth of everything that’s happening. The amount of people that you have to deal with, the amount of interviews, and this is all between your rehearsal time and your therapy, and you are trying to lick your wounds and all that stuff.”

Insiders also claim this season is already being described as “a sh-t show” with several stars failing to put in the effort needed to compete seriously. Feldman, according to the source, is among those who “don’t seem as committed as others have in the past.”

And it seems that Feldman’s behavior ultimately caught up to him. Not only did he score 15 points for their cha-cha to “Baby Got Back,” but he was eliminated in the second week of the reality competition show.

This season’s “Dancing with the Stars” cast includes Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, actress Hilaria Baldwin, “Boy Meets World” alum Danielle Fishel, wildlife personality Robert Irwin, TikTok creator Whitney Leavitt, actress Elaine Hendrix, and influencer Alix Earle. According to pro dancer Peta Murgatroyd, who now co-hosts “The Penthouse with Peta” podcast, the inclusion of big-name digital personalities like Earle and Leavitt is no accident.

“I mean, they’re definitely pulling for the social media stars because they saw what happened last season,” Murgatroyd told the Daily Mail. “That audience is massive. The reach is huge and it’s going to help the show thrive and get the numbers it needs to.”

She added that leaning into online fan bases is a smart move for the franchise. “The show is ever-evolving. It’s a very different show than when Maks and I were on season 10, when it was in its heyday with 24 million viewers.”

Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Jenna Johnson admitted she was excited when she first learned Corey Feldman would be her partner this season. The professional dancer recalled her initial reaction when the “Lost Boys” actor walked into the rehearsal studio, sunglasses on and confidence radiating.

“He is an icon, and when he came in with the sunglasses on, I was like, ‘Oh yes, he means business,’” Johnson shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “One of my favorite things about Corey is his energy, and he comes into the room with that charisma and that energy. I really love that, and I want to make sure that I highlight that in each dance that we do, because it is so special about him. He’s really electric on the dance floor and in our rehearsal space.”

“Dancing with the Stars” season 34 wasted no time making headlines, with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, as well as TikTok star Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, topping the leaderboard on premiere night with 15/20. The scoring system was slightly altered for the debut, as longtime judge Carrie Ann Inaba was absent due to illness, leaving couples judged out of 20 instead of the usual 30.

By week two, Inaba returned to the ballroom alongside Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, restoring the standard 30-point scoring system. To keep things fresh, producers also introduced a new twist. The final judge had to critique each couple offered just a single word to capture the essence of the performance.

The competition is already showing signs of renewed momentum. ABC confirmed that the season premiere delivered the franchise’s strongest debut in five years, thanks in large part to its viral online buzz.