Dancing with the Stars' Lacey Schwimmer Opens Up About the Impact of Weight Comments from Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Louis van Amstel
Former 'Dancing With the Stars' pro Lacey Schwimmer reveals how hurtful comments from Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Louis van Amstel about her weight shattered her spirit
Lacey Schwimmer, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Getty Images (2)
During an episode of Cheryl Burke's "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans" podcast, Lacey Schwimmer opened up about a distressing incident on Dancing With the Stars where Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Louis van Amstel criticized her weight. The experience deeply affected her, causing her spirit to shatter and leading to countless tears.
In October 2008, Chmerkovskiy, aged 43, and van Amstel, aged 51, criticized Schwimmer, aged 35, and Burke, aged 39, regarding their physical appearance during an interview with TV Guide.
"When I initially saw these women this season, I mentioned, 'Guys, you are aware that the camera adds extra weight,'" Chmerkovskiy commented at that moment. "It's necessary for you to address this issue."
Van Amstel, on the other hand, stated to the outlet that individuals seek inspiration from this show and hope that with enough hard work, they can achieve a similar appearance. However, if viewers witness someone tirelessly dancing and still carrying weight, it may discourage them. Therefore, one must acknowledge this responsibility. While Schwimmer publicly expressed that she felt content and satisfied with her appearance when addressing the comments on Access Hollywood, she was privately battling with this matter.
Michael Bezjian/WireImage
She explained to Burke that the incident had caused significant disruption, emphasizing that she did not hold Chmerkovskiy or van Amstel responsible for their remarks. "Naturally, following the initial statement from Maks and Louis, it gave others the opportunity to form their own judgments about my appearance."
Schwimmer experienced criticism for her weight during her time on DWTS, not just during the Van Amstel and Chmerkovskiy interview. She shared with Burke that a producer approached her after a fitting and suggested she wear fishnets for a more flattering appearance on camera.
Assuming that everyone on the show faced similar comments, Schwimmer initially thought it was just a normal part of being on the show. Reflecting on the incident now, she realizes that her body at that time was truly remarkable.
The show Dancing With the Stars, in Schwimmer's opinion, had a negative impact on her body image when she initially joined at the age of 19.
"I personally believe that Dancing With the Stars promotes body image problems for women," she expressed. "We are required to wear bras and panties with minimal fringe on the backside. Standing alongside naturally slim girls, it compelled me to resort to extreme measures."
She added, "At certain times, I used to consume around 500 calories per day while constantly dancing and relying on Red Bull to keep going. I also confess to misusing diet pills, setting alarms on my phone to remind me when to take the next dose."
Schwimmer expressed her personal opinion, emphasizing that, in her experience, thinner individuals tend to attract more attention on the show. According to her, when she herself decreased from a size 6 to a size 2, weighing 115 lbs, she began to feature in photo shoots and participate in special dances associated with DWTS.
“So, you start getting this love, and it’s this weird backwards way of feeling successful for literally harming yourself,” she said.
We has reached out to ABC for comment.
