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Former Dancing With the Stars pro Louis van Amstel has publicly condemned fellow pro alum Gleb Savchenko for criticizing Alan Bersten stepping in for Val Chmerkovskiy.
“I saw Gleb on TikTok Live going after Alan and why he shouldn’t be … the replacement for the week instead of Val,” Louis, 54, said in a Tuesday, October 20, Instagram video. “Gleb, I’m disappointed that you actually threw Alan under the bus.”
The OG’s Instagram hit-back comes after Gleb, 43, said during a recent livestream that Alan, 32, was an unsuitable replacement for Val, 40, amid his one-week suspension after sharing social media comments directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Gleb, who left the reality TV dancing series after completing last year’s season 34, had taken to TikTok to comment on Bersten. “lan, I think he’s Alan. I mean, he’s just not up to the level of dancing, like, period,” he argued. “[The] quality, the technique. He’s a good dancer, I guess, for TV but if we talk about art? Like creating art? He’s like, eh.”
Louis, in turn, argued that Gleb’s critique had missed the mark entirely. “This show is about making people feel good, about supporting, about changing lives, affecting lives in a way. It has affected all of our lives. There are many reality shows where the drama comes from the cast going at each other and the entertainment is at their expense. I don’t believe our show is. Our show is about supporting one another, especially when it comes to the pro dancers,” he said on Tuesday.
Louis, who starred as a pro consistently on the show from season 1 through to season 15, added that going after fellow dancers was bad form. “Gleb, I’m sorry, I’m surprised to hear that you said that. Alan is a great dancer and you said it, ‘He’s a great dancer for TV.’ Well, he’s not competing in our industry, he’s competing on TV and, also, the fact remains that when you are on that season, you have a contract for three months so if you are eliminated as a pro, you now become part of the performances,” Louis explained. “Ultimately, Alan didn’t make the choice, the producers made the choice.”
He finished his video by adding that there was plenty he could share from his own back catalog of Gleb memories. “I could open Pandora’s box and come after you, but I’m not. I like you, you’re a great dancer, you did wonderful on DWTS, you’re a wonderful dad, so I’m going to stop here,” he said. “But please, let’s stick together as a group and support each other. Thank you.”
During Tuesday’s Dedication Night episode, cohost Alfonso Ribeiro lightly referenced Val’s absence. “As you can see, Alan Bersten is with Jenna Dewan because Val is not with us this week,” Ribeiro, 55, said at the beginning of the night. No other reference to the drama was made by the hosts, however Bersten did praise Dewan, 45, for working through her partner switch-up with grace.
“First and foremost, I know it’s a really unusual situation,” Bersten told the camera during the duo’s intro package. “But I feel so honored to step in and help you this week.”
Inaba also nodded to the situation during her post-performance comments. “Jenna, I know this journey has been a lot. But you continue to come out here giving us all your heart, all your soul,” she told the actress.
