DWTS pro Gleb Savchenko has denied attacking Alan Bersten over his temporary replacement of Val Chmerkovskiy. However, he continues to question whether Bersten matches Chmerkovskiy’s dancing abilities. Savchenko insists his remarks were professional rather than personal, but his latest comments have reignited the debate.
Gleb Savchenko insists he wasn’t attacking Alan Bersten but continues comparing him unfavorably to Val Chmerkovskiy
During a recent TikTok Live, Savchenko, 43, acknowledged Bersten’s skills but argued that the two dancers should not be compared.
“Alan’s a good dancer for his niche,” he said. “He’s great for his thing. But he can’t be compared to Val.”
Savchenko insisted he was “not talking trash” about Bersten. Instead, he said he was being honest about their different styles and techniques. He also noted that dancers improve with time, adding, “And it takes time to get better and better.”
The comments came after Bersten stepped in to partner with actress Jenna Dewan during DWTS’s “Dedication Night.” He replaced Chmerkovskiy after the show suspended the pro for one week over a social media post criticizing judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Savchenko, who did not return as a professional dancer this season, had already questioned Bersten’s suitability for the role.
“He’s a good dancer, I guess, for TV, but if we talk about art? Like, creating art? He’s like, eh,” Savchenko said during an earlier TikTok appearance.
He also questioned why producers chose Bersten instead of a troupe dancer. “I don’t have anything against the guy, just, like, why Alan?” he asked.
Savchenko later told Page Six that he did not intend the remarks as a personal attack. “I’ve known Alan for years, I have a lot of love for him, and I respect what he brings to the show,” he said.
Bersten and Dewan later earned 37 out of 40 points for their Viennese waltz to The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.” The performance honored Dewan’s mother, Nancy Lee Bursch. Inaba praised the routine and called it Dewan’s “ultimate breakthrough” performance.
Chmerkovskiy’s suspension followed his response to Inaba’s criticism of a dance performed by his wife and fellow pro Jenna Johnson.
