The elimination of Corey Feldman from Season 33 of Dancing With the Stars was supposed to be a routine algorithmic dismissal—a nostalgic casting choice bowing out after a modest two-week run. Instead, it has metastasized into a searing indictment of the reality television industrial complex. In the immediate aftermath of his departure, the narrative shifted violently from performance critique to character assassination, with leaked reports branding the 80s icon as "difficult" and "nightmarish" on set. However, Feldman’s swift and candid counter-offensive—alleging a culture of "mudslinging" and behind-the-scenes toxicity—has pulled back the curtain on the manufactured friction that powers the Disney-backed franchise. This is no longer just about a paso doble gone wrong; it is a case study in how legacy entertainment brands weaponize celebrity reputation for ratings in an era of dwindling linear viewership.
The Anatomy of a smear Campaign
In the high-stakes ecosystem of broadcast reality competitions, the "Villain Edit" is a time-honored production asset. Yet, the situation surrounding Corey Feldman feels less like organic drama and more like a strategic offensive. Following his Week 2 elimination, a synchronized wave of "insider" reports surfaced across tabloids, alleging behavioral issues during rehearsals.
Feldman, however, refused to play the role of the silent casualty. In a move that surprised industry analysts, he bypassed the standard publicist-approved platitudes and went directly to the press, specifically E! News, to dismantle the narrative. His assertion that the accusations were "overblown" and a result of "toxic behind-the-scenes drama" reframed the conversation.
This pivot is significant. Usually, eliminated contestants engage in a polite rehabilitation tour. Feldman’s choice to label the environment itself as toxic suggests a deeper systemic issue within the Los Angeles production. It highlights a growing tension between the talent—who view the show as a career rehabilitation vehicle—and the producers, who require conflict to sustain engagement across social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
The Chmerkovskiy Confusion: A Media Failure
One of the most critical aspects of this controversy—and one that highlights the eroding standards of entertainment journalism—is the rampant misidentification of the accuser. In the rush to aggregate clicks, numerous outlets attributed the "difficult" comments to Val Chmerkovskiy, a current pro on the show and a fan favorite.
Deep intelligence confirms that the comments actually originated from Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Val’s brother and a former pro known for his unfiltered, often incendiary takes. Maksim is not currently on the payroll for Season 33, yet his external commentary was aggregated and conflated with the show's internal narrative.
This distinction is paramount. Val Chmerkovskiy has remained professionally silent, while his brother operates as a chaotic external agent. The media's failure to distinguish between the two has unfairly implicated the current cast in a drama they did not author. For the discerning reader, this underscores the necessity of scrutinizing the source code of celebrity gossip; the "Chmerkovskiy" brand is being used as a monolith to validate rumors that may have no basis in the actual rehearsal room dynamics of Season 33.
Jenna Johnson and the Reality of Partnership
Amidst the noise of "sources" and "insiders," the testimony of the primary witness—Feldman’s dance partner, Jenna Johnson—offers a stark contradiction to the negative press. Johnson has stood firmly beside Feldman, corroborating his stance that the reports are exaggerated.
In the visual language of the show, the chemistry between partners is the only metric that truly matters. Johnson’s refusal to distance herself from Feldman suggests that the "nightmare" narrative is likely an external fabrication rather than an internal reality. If the professional tasked with spending eight hours a day with Feldman denies the toxicity, the credibility of anonymous leaks crumbles.
This aligns with a broader trend in the industry where female professionals (like Johnson) are often used as silent props in narratives built by male commentators (like Maksim). By speaking out, even subtly, Johnson disrupts the expected flow of the scandal, positioning herself and Feldman against the "machine" of the show's peripheral chatter.
Cultural Implications: The Nostalgia Trap
Why cast Corey Feldman in the first place? The strategy relies on the "Nostalgia Trap." Dancing With the Stars has long functioned as a purgatory for stars of yesteryear, offering a chance at redemption in exchange for dignity. Feldman, a child star whose life has been marred by genuine Hollywood trauma and public ridicule, represents the ultimate high-risk, high-reward casting.
The audience’s reaction to Feldman—split between sympathy for his transparency and scrutiny of his defensiveness—mirrors our complex relationship with 1980s pop culture figures. We want them to succeed, yet the media infrastructure is built to monetize their failure.
Feldman’s pushback is culturally relevant because it breaks the unspoken contract of reality TV: We give you airtime; you give us control of your image. By rejecting the "difficult" label, Feldman is asserting autonomy over a reputation that has been public property for four decades. It is a messy, uncomfortable, but ultimately necessary reclamation of self in an industry designed to strip it away.
The Business of Buzz: Ratings vs. Reputation
From a business perspective, ABC and Disney are playing a dangerous game. The Season 33 premiere saw a robust 12% lift in the coveted 18–49 demographic, proving that the format still has legs. However, the subsequent 3% drop during Feldman’s run indicates that the novelty wears off quickly.
The "scandal" is a calculated attempt to arrest that decline. In the algorithm-driven economy, negative engagement is still engagement. The 120,000+ views on Feldman’s interview clips and the thousands of comments on E! News Instagram posts represent valuable data points for advertisers. The show needs a villain because a polite dance competition does not trend on Google Discover.
However, this short-term gain carries long-term risks. If Dancing With the Stars cements a reputation as a toxic environment that sets up its talent for public humiliation, the caliber of future castings will suffer. Agents will be wary of placing high-value clients in a meat grinder, leaving the show reliant on increasingly marginal figures willing to trade humiliation for a paycheck.
Timeline of the Controversy
- September 2025: Corey Feldman is announced as a cast member for DWTS Season 33, paired with pro Jenna Johnson.
- Early October 2025 (Week 1-2): Feldman survives the first week but is eliminated in Week 2 following mixed judges' scores.
- October 24, 2025: Reports surface immediately post-elimination alleging Feldman was "difficult" and "defensive" during rehearsals.
- October 25, 2025: Maksim Chmerkovskiy (not Val) comments on the situation, fueling the fire. Media conflates the two brothers.
- Current Status: Feldman appears on E! News and other outlets to denounce the "toxic" environment; social media sentiment splits between skepticism and support.
Future Forecast: The Fallout
What happens next? The lifecycle of a modern entertainment scandal is short but intense. We predict Feldman will continue his "truth tour" for another news cycle, utilizing the momentum to promote his music or upcoming documentary projects. He has successfully positioned himself as a truth-teller, a role that resonates with a Gen Z audience increasingly skeptical of polished corporate narratives.
For DWTS, the strategy will be silence. The production team is unlikely to issue a formal rebuttal, relying instead on the inevitable passage of time and the next elimination to wash the headlines away. However, this incident will likely be cited in future industry critiques regarding the mental health protections—or lack thereof—afforded to reality TV participants.
Ultimately, this drama serves as a bellwether for the state of linear entertainment. As the lines between reality, scripted drama, and PR spin blur, the audience is becoming more sophisticated. They can spot the strings being pulled. Feldman might have lost the mirrorball trophy, but by exposing the machinery, he may have won the war for the narrative.
Written by Ara Ohanian for FAZ Fashion — fashion intelligence for the modern reader.
