14 DAY TRIAL // Maksim Chmerkovskiy is done with ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, for good this time. The other day, the pro dancer talked to Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live on Bravo, where he confirmed he would not return to the show because he would be focusing on other projects. He also talked about his former dancing partner Kirstie Alley and how she cut all ties with him because of Scientology.
Maks and Kirstie were partnered for the 2011 season and their bond was very strong at the time. At one point, there was even talk that they might be a bit more than just friends, but whether that was the case or not, there was no denying that they liked each other and loved spending time together because they had fun.
That was the case “until recently,” the dancer told Andy, as cited by E! News. Kirstie shunned him when she found out that he was also spending time with Leah Remini, who defected from Scientology last year and has not stopped talking about it ever since.
Kirstie and Leah were friends at one point, but when the latter decided to leave, she became a “suppressive person.” Scientology members are asked to “disconnect” from those who quit the church, even if they’re related.
Apparently, this also means cutting off whoever these “suppressive persons” hang out with, like Maks.
“She stopped getting along with me. No, I think the world of her. I’m not judging people by their religion. I’m Jewish and you know, I don’t really believe in science fiction, but whatever. You know, we had a great relationship. I thought we had a great relationship. If it were something else or not, I don’t know,” he said, when asked if he and Kirstie were still in touch.
“But I got a message that now that I am associating with other people that she can’t be associated with. I am no longer to be spoken with. Sorry, but it is what it is… I love people. I don’t judge them. My best friend is Muslim, Tony. I don’t condone anybody’s religion. I don’t judge anybody by their religious beliefs. I just feel like, you know it’s sad that we’ve gone through so much together and I feel like I’ve helped her and this is where we’re at now. But I still think the world of her. I wish her all the best,” he continued.
Considering the negative media attention Scientology is always getting, Maks could have been much nastier in his comments about Kirstie, but he chose to be diplomatic about the whole thing. He was just as diplomatic when he was asked if he was leaving DWTS because the show was on its last legs, saying it was “brilliant.” It’s just time to move on.