Ballroom icon Derek Hough recently made a statement in an interview that raised a few eyebrows. In the middle of a conversation with a former “Dancing With the Stars” pro, he mentioned the two of them had their own “Heated Rivalry” moment.
The popular show “Heated Rivalry” features two star hockey players trying to maintain their passionate romance despite playing for rival teams.
So what exactly did Derek Hough have to say about the situation in the ballroom?
Derek Hough Declares His “Heated Rivalry” Situation
Many seasoned “Dancing With the Stars” fans recall how competitive the pro dancers could be back in the day. Derek Hough currently holds the record for the most wins with a whopping six Mirrorball Trophies.
Maks Chmerkovskiy never quite won as many times, but he remained a fan favorite on the show. Fans loved seeing Maks go up against Derek, even if the situation was a little tense at times.
ExtraTV posted a snippet of a discussion between Derek Hough and Maks Chmerkovskiy on its Instagram page. In the video, the men talk about their early days on the show.
“I look at us and you know, in the ballroom there was sometimes like this rivalry and sometimes it was heated. You might even say it was a heated rivalry,” Derek quipped, clearly making reference to the steamy hockey drama.
“Oh no, Derek. Oh no. Not us! What are you saying?” Maks countered in disbelief. Derek replied he was just kidding.
“Your story is unique. I mean it’s that … American dream,” the current “DWTS” judge continued.
“I think so,” Maks replied. “You know, it’s relevant today. It’s always been relevant in this country, you know with me coming in here from somewhere else.”
The father of three goes on to describe coming to the United States from Ukraine at 14-years-old and trying to find himself. He credits dance with helping him find his way.
In the comments, fans went wild for the collab. Many noted that they missed seeing Maks and Derek in the same room.
“Love seeing you two together again!” one fan shared, with many echoing similar sentiments.
The “DWTS” Judge Prepares For His Upcoming Tour
The summer will be a busy season for Derek Hough and his family. He and his wife Hayley Erbert Hough are embarking on another leg of the Symphony of Dance tour. This year, they’re bringing their infant daughter Everley along.
Fans expect to see “Dancing With the Stars” season 35 premiere on ABC sometime this fall. Fans can purchase tickets for the Symphony of Dance tour on the official website.
