Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy is claiming that comments he made about the size of fellow professionals Cheryl Burke and Lacey Schwimmer were taken out of context.

Chmerkovskiy, 28, said, �I am outspoken but I do not discriminate how people look. That�s the great thing about ballroom � unlike jazz and ballet � it doesn�t discriminate. People of all shapes and sizes and levels of ability can take part in ballroom dancing.�

Chmerkovskiy said that he was making a general comment on, �how excess weight on the body takes its toll on the joints, the lower back,� and was not commenting about Cheryl Burke or Lacey Schwimmer. �I never criticized Cheryl or Lacey,� Chmerkovskiy says.

Schwimmer put on weight after an extensive recuperation period following knee surgery last year and Burke told PEOPLE last month she gained a few pounds over the summer, the result of not dancing every day.

Chmerkovskiy is now finding himself in the hot seat and is being slammed by fans, some even telling him to go back to his own country! He says that he has spoken with Burke and has reached out to Schwimmer.

�We�re fine. I�m dancing with Cheryl next week. I am a big promoter of being healthy and physical activity, but in my business, I do not condemn how people look,� he said. �It�s sad how all of this got spun.�

Hopefully he’s telling the truth, because if not, he’s a pig with a capital OINK!

[image: WENN]

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