Dancing With the Stars fans are buzzing after former pros Peta Murgatroyd and Maks Chmerkovskiycriticized Jan Ravnikfor lacking ballroom experience. Now, supporters are pushing back, saying the rookie pro deserves more grace.
“Jen has a major disadvantage,” Murgatroyd, 39, said of Ravnik’s celebrity partner, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck, on her podcast The Penthouse With Peta. “Hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach a celebrity ballroom dance is outrageous.”
Chmerkovskiy, 45, agreed, bluntly adding, “Jan has absolutely no business being a pro… There’s zero foundation, technique, [or] understanding of the partnership.”
But fans on Reddit aren’t having it. One viral thread defending Ravnik argues that DWTS has evolved, and so should its expectations. “What was once a ballroom show we watched with our parents has evolved, especially with TikTok,” the thread reads. “Jan isn’t the first pro hired to not have ballroom experience.”
The fan also pointed out that other DWTS pros, like Allison Holker and Tyne Stecklein, also joined the show without a ballroom background. “Jan is at least putting proper ballroom content into his dances,” they said. “He’s also appearing to make an attempt unlike Tyne and Allison.”
Ravnik, 30, previously danced on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour before joining DWTS this season. While his lack of ballroom training has become a flashpoint, viewers are calling for patience.
“Tour dancing is a very different ballgame than a live TV show,” this supporter continued. “Jan might decide not to come back because people didn’t want to give him time to adjust.”
Others agreed in regards to Ravnik’s talent. “Jan I think is already one of the most likeable male pros,” said one commenter. “He could easily improve if he uses the break after this season to work on his technique in Ballroom & Latin.”
Some even suggested he shouldn’t return next year. “He could and will do a lot more than DWTS,” another commented.
Ravnik’s first season has everyone talking, which is its own kind of star power. Will he and Affleck survive the Halloween Night elimination?
Watch Dancing With the Stars on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Stream episodes the next day on Hulu.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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