Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Kirstie Alley became friends on the dance floor,
but they later had a public spat. They remained at odds in the months
leading up to her untimely death in December 2022.
The pair danced their way into 2011 Dancing With the Stars finals on ABC,
where they had previously met during season 12. After a year apart, they
got back together for the series All-Star season.
But things changed when Leah Remini, fresh off her public departure from
Scientology and her role as the King in the King of Queens, joined the
Dancing with the Stars cast for season 17. Even though they were never
partnered together, Alley labeled Remini a “bigot” for her comments on the
church the same year she became acquainted with Chmerkovskiy. (During her
professional life, Alley was a devout Scientologist.)
but they later had a public spat. They remained at odds in the months
leading up to her untimely death in December 2022.
The pair danced their way into 2011 Dancing With the Stars finals on ABC,
where they had previously met during season 12. After a year apart, they
got back together for the series All-Star season.
But things changed when Leah Remini, fresh off her public departure from
Scientology and her role as the King in the King of Queens, joined the
Dancing with the Stars cast for season 17. Even though they were never
partnered together, Alley labeled Remini a “bigot” for her comments on the
church the same year she became acquainted with Chmerkovskiy. (During her
professional life, Alley was a devout Scientologist.)
