Dancing With the Stars’ Jan Ravnik is clapping back at the scrutiny he’s received in his first season as a pro dancer.
“I mean, look, everyone has [an] opinion. Everyone has a right to have [an] opinion. Haters [are] going to hate and whoever loves us, loves us,” Ravnik, 30, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 28, after he and celebrity partner Jen Affleck were eliminated during DWTS’ season 34 Halloween Night.
“What am I going to do? You can’t change their mind. Everyone can have [an] opinion — either I respect [it] or don’t respect [it],” he continued.
Ravnik emphatically concluded, “Yeah, let them talk. If they want to stay relevant in that way, yeah, let them hate.”
Going into Tuesday’s Halloween Night episode, Ravnik — who performed with Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour — faced criticism over his ballroom credentials, including from former DWTS pro Maks Chmerkovskiy.
“Dancing With the Stars is a worldwide phenomenon. … I’m sorry, Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on Dancing With the Stars,” Chmerkovskiy said on the Friday, October 24, episode of his wife Peta Murgatroyd’s “The Penthouse With Peta” podcast. “There’s zero foundation technique, quality, understanding of the partnership. Bro, I’m getting emotional. It is absurd, and this is unreal how blind we have to be and God forbid say what’s obviously there.”
Chmerkovskiy, 45, took aim at Ravnik and Affleck’s foxtrot during the October 21 Wicked Night episode, claiming the professional dancer had “no idea” what the dance style entailed.
“How are you going to expect him to teach it and deliver that message in a format that is completely different from even ballroom dancing? We had this criticism weeks ago, and I’m like, ‘Bro, is anybody going to explain it to him?’” Chmerkovskiy said.
Chmerkovskiy said Ravnik’s casting was a “missed opportunity” for Affleck, adding, “[It’s a] major disadvantage. [Jen] has no partner. … It’s not his fault.”
Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow DWTS alum Murgatroyd, 39, said that “hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach ballroom dancing to a celebrity as a job” was “outrageous.” However, she said Ravnik was a “lovely guy” and “great dancer.”
Ravnik and Affleck, 26, went home on Tuesday night after performing a contemporary dance to Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”
“Honestly, I think we were both shocked, but I think that’s everyone when they go home,” the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star exclusively told Us. “I think everyone expects to make it to the end and seven weeks is a long time, and I’m grateful that I got to this point. I’m grateful that we got to Halloween and we were able to end off on an amazing note.”
“We were able to end off to [a song by] thee Taylor Swift and, yeah, there’s just so many things to be grateful for,” Affleck added.
During Tuesday’s broadcast, DWTS judge Derek Hough appeared to allude to the criticism Ravnik has faced in his inaugural season.
“Jan, first of all,” Hough praised Ravnik as he delivered his feedback after their contemporary routine. “I want to tell you, my man, that you are doing a fantastic first season.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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