‘DWTS’ Pro Peta Murgatroyd Breaks Silence On Maks Chmerkovskiy, Vanessa Lachey Controversy

Peta Murgatroyd, Maksim Chmerkovskiy — Pete Murgatroyd understands that the competition may have been stressful for her husband, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Pictured: Murgatroyd, Chmerkovskiy attend the VALENTINNICOLE fashion show at Lovage on Feb. 9, 2017 in New York City. Getty Images/Monica Schipper

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 25 pro Peta Murgatroyd is finally opening up about the recent controversy involving her husband, Maks Chmerkovskiy and his partner, Vanessa Lachey.

In the lengthy blog post she penned for People, Murgatroyd explained how “stressful” the hit ABC reality TV competition could be on both the pros and the contestants. “This show is extremely stressful, but at the end of the day when you get those scores and your partner did well – like Vanessa has been doing week after week – then it’s all worth it. It does get difficult sometimes, though,” she said.

Last week, Chmerkovskiy decided to sit out an entire episode of “Dancing With the Stars,” which meant that he did not compete with his partner. Alan Bersten took his place, and he was the one who danced with Lachey. It was later on revealed that Chmerkovskiy and Lachey were feuding with each other. According to multiple reports, their strong personalities clashed during rehearsals.

But immediately after last week’s episode, Chmerkovskiy announced that he will return to the show. Fellow pro dancer Lindsay Arnold spotted him at the studio last week and told People, “Maks is back. We saw him and Vanessa today in the studio. They’re excited to be together again.”

Season 25 contestant Sasha Pieterse also weighed in on the controversy involving the partners and said, “Honestly, they’re awesome. I love them. Nick and Vanessa are awesome so are Peta and Maks. They’re such a fun partnership. I don’t know what’s going on but all I know is that he had a personal issue, a family issue. Alan was great and now Maks and Vanessa are reunited.”

On Monday, the couples performed a routine as part of the Most Memorable Year theme. The 98 Degrees singer and Murgatroyd performed a contemporary dance number that celebrated the year he tied the knot with his wife.

Lachey and Chmerkovskiy, on the other hand, danced a rumba that celebrated the time she gave birth to her third child, Phoenix Robert, at just 29 weeks. The emotional performance brought Lachey to tears.

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 25 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.