U.S. Olympic soccer star Hope Solo, 31, is charging in her new memoir, Solo: A Memoir of Hope, that her former Dancing With The Stars partner, professional dancer Maksim (Maks) Chmerkovskiy, 32, was physically and verbally aggressive during rehearsals. "He was often nasty, swearing at me and being harshly critical," Solo writes. "He manhandled me in rehearsals from the start, pushing me, whacking my stomach, bending my arms roughly. I thought that was just how it went – how dancers worked with each other. I was tough. I could take it… But it kept getting worse. One day, Maks was trying to put me in a certain position and hit my stomach so hard with his open palm that I had a red handprint there for the rest of the day."

These allegations are surprising considering Solo and Chmerkoskiy were once rumored to be dating, although those claims have since been declared false. Chmerkovskiy had been physical with Solo on national television, Solo notes that Chmerkovskiy apologized once after slapping her in the face, and that she was offered a new partner by ABC, although Solo decided to stay with Chmerkovsky. Solo also believes Chmerkovskiy attempted to keep them on the show by stirring up drama and mocking judge Len Goodman, 68.

Solo claims, however, that she did not speak out about Chmerkovskiy's behavior at the time because she did not want to hurt his career. For now, Twitter looks to be the platform for the accused to speak out. "Always hated hypocrites and liars, " Chmerkovsky tweeted. "But when someone is both AND an opportunist, I just feel bad for them. Can't win at someone's expense …"

Kirstie Alley, 61, appeared defend her former DWTS partner. "I shall bite thine tongue, lest I get into a girl fight that I would surely lose without a hammer in my hand…;)… ouch! bloody tongue," she tweeted. Alley is slated to be partners with Chmerkovskiy on the show's upcoming season.

Solo's memoir has already ruffled a number of feathers after she claimed former USA coach Greg Ryan, 55, pushed her in a team a meeting, an allegation Ryan has strongly denied. It only seems like a matter of time before the next member of the accused is called upon to defend his or herself.

Read more about:

Leave a comment

Subscribe to the uInterview newsletter