Val Chmerkovskiy had critical words for AJ Pritchard over his attitude and approach on the summer series Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.
The 40-year-old professional dancer cited the interactions involving Pritchard, a 31-year-old dancer who’s been seen on the BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, and dancer partner Selena Hamilton, 21.
‘I wish he wrapped that arrogance into a little softer presentation,’ Chmerkovskiy, a three-time Dancing with the Stars champion, said Monday on his podcast Stepping on Toes. ‘It makes good TV at his expense – I guess that’s how I want to say it.’
Pritchard is vying to be named as a pro dancer for Dancing with the Stars’ 35th season this fall.
Chmerkovskiy told co-host Danielle Fishel he thinks the audition-like nature of the show might explain Pritchard’s demeanor, with his past accolades in the field.
He said, ‘I get it, you did your thing, you won some awards,’ noting that other contestants on the show have as well, such as Natalie Jolley.
Val Chmerkovskiy, 40, had critical words for AJ Pritchard, 31, over his attitude and approach on the summer series Dancing with the Stars : The Next Pro. Pictured in Miami in May
Chmerkovskiy said of the talents seen on the series: ‘We’ve all got pedigree – everybody’s won something.’
The recent episode of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro saw the 10 contestants on the show divided into duos for a challenge focused on a personal story.
Pritchard and Hamilton went against the grain of the themes covered in the stories – which were centered on serious topics such as grieving or hardships – by celebrating Pritchard’s British Open Dance Championship victory.
Chmerkovskiy said Pritchard’s curt approach with Hamilton in rehearsals – physically showing Hamilton the dance steps with his feet – was ‘something that would be done in some rooms.’
For the mainstream show, Chmerkovskiy said it would likely rub people the wrong way, regardless of his dance skills.
‘You’re not going to win people over unless they’re into that kind of thing … strategically for the show that is a huge turn-off,’ Chmerkovskiy said.
‘I appreciate that he’s a well-accomplished competitive dancer and he does have experience,’ Chmerkovskiy said. ‘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.’
He continued, ‘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?”‘
Pritchard, who’s been seen on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, pictured in London last year
Chmerkovskiy, seen in Miami in May, says Pritchard needs to display more ‘humility’
Chmerkovskiy said while he ‘can appreciate that’ line of thinking, the onus falls on Pritchard for agreeing to do the show in the first place.
He said, ‘Dude, then don’t sign up for the show. But if you are going to show up, you’ve got to have humility in the sense that you’ve got to prove yourself.
‘There’s a reason why you’re here and no longer have a job there – so be here, be present, don’t live in the past.’
Chmerkovskiy acknowledged that while Pritchard capturing the British Open Dance Championship marked a ‘special moment,’ it iced out Hamilton from sharing her own rich experiences.
‘I’m not really sure why, because I’m sure she also lived a life and has stories to tell,’ he said of Hamilton.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Chmerkovskiy and Pritchard for further comment on the story.
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